MHS-1 rules boys high school v-ball tourney

Marianas High School-1’s Bailey Spaeth, left, tips the ball over during their their title-deciding game against Tinian Junior Senior High School in the 2018-2019 Public School System Boys High School Volleyball Tournament last Saturday at the MHS Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Marianas High School-1 survived Tinian Junior Senior High School-1 in a rubber, 25-11, to clinch the championship in the 2018-2019 Public School System Boys High School Volleyball Tournament last Saturday at the MHS Gymnasium.

After the Stallions stunned the Dolphins in Game 1 (25-23) of the finals, MHS-1 made sure no more upset will take place, as the eventual champion dominated the deciding Game 2 right from the get go. Jerico Castro, Logan Mister, and Bailey Spaeth this time were on point with their spikes to hand MHS-1 the easy win in Game 2. Nilo Calimag, Alan Hinson, Archival Velasco, and Andrei Manalo also played for the Dolphins in the double-elimination playoffs.

Earlier in Game 1, MHS-1 seemed headed for the victory when it built a 7-1 lead. Tinian-1 scored the first point, but played catch up the rest of the way, as the much taller MHS-1 players used their height advantage to earn points in the net.

Marianas High School-1’s Logan Mister spikes the ball during Game 2 of their title showdown with the Tinian Junior Senior High School in the 2018-2019 Public School System Boys High School Volleyball Tournament last Saturday at the MHS Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Two straight points from Spaeth gave MHS-1 a 15-7 advantage and Tinian-1 was forced to sue for time to regroup.

The visiting team went on to work its way back into the match and stole the win from the Dolphins, who were too aggressive with their game and committed unforced errors, including several wild spikes from Mister, Castro, and Spaeth.

Tinian-1 capitalized on MHS-1’s miscues to grab the lead, 23-22. The Stallions took the upper hand when Castro went for a volley, but the shot hit the net and when Velasco attempted a second hit, he was a bit late and the ball landed on their court. Velasco then made up for a missed opportunity with a spike over two Tinian-1 blockers to tie the game, 23-all.

An Eron Borja spike gave the lead back to Tinian-1 when Castro received it, but his shot went to their court’s side near the umpire. The Stallions then served for a game point and there was a long exchange between the opposing teams before Jared King caught MHS-1 blockers off guard. King leapt from the right corner in what looked like a booming spike, but he tricked two Dolphins blockers, as he instead tipped the ball over on an unguarded spot to give Tinian-1 the win and force the deciding game.

The Dolphins held a twice-to-beat edge in the finals after prevailing in their first three matches in the winner’s bracket. MHS-1 roped MHS-3, Rota, and Tinian-1 to notch the first finals berth.

Tinian-1 got the second and last finals ticket after eliminating Saipan Southern High School, 25-20. The Stallions, however, failed to complete their comeback bid in the weekend tournament, as the Dolphins got their acts together in the deciding Game 2.

Hinson scored the winning point for MHS off an ace.