Lagooners level series to stay alive

The Lagooners were able to bounce right back from their disappointing loss to Ochobu and kept their 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League title hopes alive with a victory in o-kon yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

As reported earlier, the Lagooners already had a 29-24 lead after two sets of play. Ochobu won the opener 15-13, and the Lagooners finally took a set in the series by winning set two, 16-9.

When action resumed yesterday, the Lagooners had a clear advantage as only four members of Ochobu suited up. With one less player covering the court, Ochobu was not able to keep up with the Lagooners, who showed no mercy and scored three goals to win, 18-13. Danny Daniel was first to hit the ball past the goalie, Denry Fiden followed, and Tito Francisco closed the set with a goal.

With the win, the Lagooners headed into the final set ahead by 10 points, 47-37. Ochobu, however, still had a chance. All the team needed to do was win the fourth set, force o-kon, and take two sets in overtime.

That didn’t seem possible early in the set as the Lagooners dominated and went on a 14-4 run to hit match point.

Ochobu refused to throw in the towel and began to surge back. Little by little, Ochobu managed to close in. The Lagooners also committed costly errors and soon, found themselves in trouble as Ochobu rallied from the 10-point deficit to tie the game at 14-14. Ochobu then forced o-kon when Ichnis Kapwich connected for his second goal of the match, 17-14.

The Lagooners won the coin toss, were first to serve, and opened a 2-0 lead. Ochobu was able to respond and went up 5-2 on a kee by Tarnes Kapwich, a kill by J.R. Rudolph, and a kill by Benaia Nika, but the Lagooners put up a quick response as Typhoon Saito connected for a kill and Sheila Francisco pounded in a kee to swing favor back to their corner, 6-5.

The game was tied twice before a net violation by Ochobu kicked off the Lagooners’ final charge. Up 9-7, Tito Francisco smacked a kee to clinch the win.

Graceful Fiden and Ichnis Kapwich each had 12 points to claim heavy hitter status, with Fiden leading the Lagooners with an ace, a xunk, and four kees and Kapwich pacing Ochobu with three aces and two goals.

The do-or-die third game of the series will be played on March 1. Immediately after a victor is crowned, defending champion and undefeated Mwaliyas will take on Black Magic in the other half of the semifinals.

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