GCA takes volleyball title

Grace Christian Academy’s Jasmine Phan receives a serve from Saipan International School’s Julia Ishikawa during the second set of their title game in the girls high school division of the 2017-2018 Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Volleyball League last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Grace Christian Academy handed coach Cesar Libut a title in his maiden season, as the Lady Eagles outlasted Saipan International School in the girls high school finale of the 2017-2018 Commonwealth Coalition of Private Schools Association Volleyball League last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

GCA prevailed in the extended championship game, 25-18, 16-25, 15-7, leaving the Lady Geckos with another bridesmaid finish. SIS lost to Mt. Carmel School for two seasons before facing GCA this year and missing anew on its title bid.

The Lady Geckos were the favorites in last weekend’s finals, as they were undefeated in the regular season to top the elimination, while the Lady Eagles were ranked third and bowed to SIS in three sets in their first meeting.

In their second duel, GCA got off to a good start, winning the opening set. However, the Lady Eagles failed to sustain their momentum, while SIS regrouped and displayed its offensive firepower in the second to tie the game and force a deciding third set.

“We thought we could close out the match in the second set, but SIS is such a strong team and was able to come back,” said Libut, who has been coaching at GCA for four years, but this was the first time he handled the school’s girls team.

In the second set, SIS was on the attack mode, breaking away from the 11-11 standoff and withstanding GCA’s comeback attempt to stay in contention. The Lady Geckos had their biggest lead at 22-15 after a spike from Sally Lai. Sensing trouble, Libut called timeout, hoping to stop SIS from winning the set.

When the game resumed, SIS and GCA had a rally, which the Lady Eagles stopped eventually, as Phan dropped the ball on an unguarded spot. However, that was it for GCA, as the Lady Geckos earned the needed points to win the second set. SIS took point No. 23 when two GCA players had miscommunication and neither hit the ball. Another error from GCA moved SIS within a point from taking the victory, as Torres tossed the ball, but no one from her team stepped in for the return. Malika Miyawaki then closed out for the Lady Geckos when she spiked the ball and the Lady Eagles’ Cheska Dalusung went for a dink, but the ball bounced off the backline and no other GCA player was around for the second shot.

“We were a bit impatient in the second set, rushing to end the finals right there. SIS has a very good offense and we were able to see how good their players are in the second set when they attacked. After that loss, I just told our players to take time, play defensively, and wait for SIS to commit errors. We just have to play the ball if we have no clear shot and be patient in returning them and finding open spots,” said Libut, adding that the searing heat inside the Ada gymnasium started to take its toll on his key players, so he had to pull out two of his starters to give them a brief break.

“I rested Karena (Torres) and Sunny (Woo) to give them a breather so they can reassess what’s happening in the court and see how they should play or set up their teammates. The good five minutes were very helpful, as they were fresh going into the third set and managed to play better,” the GCA coach added.

Woo reported back into the game with the match tied at 3-all, after Julia Ishikawa’s spike went wide off to the backline. Woo served and got back-to-back aces for their 5-3 lead. SIS coach Mili Saiki sued for time to restore order on the Lady Geckos’ side, however, the lull did not help the Lady Geckos cause, as GCA scored three more points, 8-3. Jasmine Phan connected on a spike, Ishikawa hit another wide spike, and GCA dropped the ball on an empty space at the backline.

Sides switched after the Lady Eagles got their eighth point and the eventual champions went on to take a promising 10-3 advantage after that, as another SIS spike was way off the sideline, while Dalusong converted on her own spike.

With GCA threatening to pull away, the Lady Geckos made a couple of changes on their lineup on the floor with Shea Hartig coming in and ending SIS’ silence with her tap falling in front of two GCA defenders. SIS made it two in a row, thanks to a similar hit from Lai, 5-10.

GCA then got the 2 points back, 12-5, off Dalusong’s back-to-back spikes, forcing Saiki to call her last timeout.

However, GCA moved closer to foiling the Lady Geckos’ third straight attempt to win the title when Torres set up Phan for spike. Phan tried another one, but this time she overshot her mark. One more missed attempt—a Dalusong dink that hit the net—kept SIS in the game, 7-13.

Then there was a long rally in the next possession before Maria Gregoire went for a spike, but the ball rammed into the net and fell down, moving GCA within a point from clinching the title. The Eagles did so when Lai, who was at the frontline and not yet squared off for a shot with her back turned against the ball, used her left arm for a return off a first hit from Ishikawa. The ball jammed into the net, handing GCA the victory.