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Islanders rally to reign in ‘Gorilla Games’
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Posted on May 05 2009
The Islanders capped their reign in the “Gorilla Games” in the World Organized Rocball Community League with a come-from-behind win over Fanians Saturday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.
Fanians gave the Islanders the stiff challenge no other teams had put up in the latter’s five straight win in the biweekly tournament. But still the Islanders came out the winners, pulling off an 110-108 overtime win in the “Gorilla Games” finale.
Besides getting the bragging rights of being the undisputed kings of “Gorilla Games,” the Islanders also won $250.
Fanians had several opportunities to upset the Islanders, as the former had the momentum early in the finale after winning the opening set, 25-14.
Leaning on their backcourt spikes, net kills, and dinks, the Islanders recovered with a 28-24 win in the second set. Despite the second-set triumph, the Islanders were still behind at halftime, 42-49.
In first few minutes of the third set, the Islanders were in control and held the lead for the last time at 20-19, before a Juluis Saito goal shifted the momentum back to Fanians. Fanians went to nail a 26-20 victory and entered the fourth set with a 75-62 lead.
The Islanders were pressed to win the fourth set to extend the game and they delivered under pressure with a 25-16 victory.
After prevailing in the fourth set, the Islanders headed to a tougher task, as they needed to beat Fanians twice in overtime to keep their reign in the tournament. Fanians needed only one victory in overtime to steal the crown.
The Islanders picked up where they left off in the first overtime set, notching an emphatic 12-1 win
The second overtime set was a close fight with four lead changes. Both teams played tough defense, but it was the Islanders’ prolific offense anchored on spikes and dinks that gave them a 10-6 win and the “Gorilla Games” title.
