MBA storms to semifinals, MCS, SDA advance

Second-seed Marianas Baptist Academy led two others to the semifinals of varsity division of the 2008-2009 Coalition of Private Schools Volleyball League after cruising to straight sets win at the start of the playoffs yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The MBA Stormz whipped Saipan International School-Green, 25-16, 25-13, to move into the semifinals along with Mt. Carmel School and the Seventh Day Adventists, which also topped separate foes in straight sets.

MBA’s Twin Towers Charlie Jo and Richard Park were too much to handle for the much smaller and leaner Geckos spikers.

Jo had several kills in the first set to help MBA control the game, while Park held his ground, blocking SIS spikers on many occasions.

Jo loosened up a bit in the second set, as he was somehow bothered by his sneakers. Jo committed several errors either over hitting the ball or losing it while going for a toss.

He left the court midway in the second set with SIS catching up and hoping to force a deciding third set.

Jo returned with a new pair of shoes and the Geckos weathered the Stormz, cutting the lead to one, 12-13.

But that was the closest that SIS could get, as Jo and Park went back to business on the net, while Jenny Sasamoto had several good serves that started MBA’s rally.

Jo and Park alternately pounded the ball on the net, while the hapless Geckos dove for it, but was a step or two late for a return.

MBA’s semis foe will be Mt. Carmel School, which recorded a 25-20, 26-24, victory over Calvary Christian Academy.

MCS was seeded third in the tournament after finishing the regular season with a 7-5 record.

Assistant coach Rommel Calcena called the shots for the Knights in absence of head coach Joe Taijeron.

The Knights are composed of Jake Igitol, Peter Matagolai, Min Joo Jung, Michael Villagomez, Benjamin Babauta, Geza Baka, Rico Camacho, Nelle Calvo, Chandelle Mendoza, Nicole Lebria, Mai Nakajima, Michelle Burer, and Maria Balajadia.

The MBA-MCS semis tiff will be played on Thursday.

In the other quarterfinals match yesterday, SDA downed SIS Blue, 25-23, 25-16.

Kono Remelik and Kae Yoshida manned the net for SDA and were successful most of the time to oust Geckos Blue.

Other members of the San Antonio-based squad are Liah Wabol, Jacinia Richards, Yuko Takayama, Joey Lacorte, Michi Yoshida, Steve Park, Won Ho Lee, and Ruby Kim. Nicole French is SDA’s coach.

SDA was ranked fifth in the playoffs and its win over SIS was sort of an upset, as the Geckos finished fourth in the regular season.

SDA will be paired with defending champion and No. 1 seed Grace Christian Academy in the semifinals. Winners of Thursday’s semis games will square off for the varsity title on Friday.