MHS rallies to win boys v-ball title

Marianas High School’s Luther Lizama hits the ball against two Grace Christian Academy blockers during Game 1 of their title match in the 2016-2017 Public School System Volleyball Tournament held over the weekend at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Marianas High School’s varsity team fought out of the loser’s bracket and emerged as the winner in the boys division of the 2016-2017 Public School System Volleyball Tournament held over the weekend at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Dolphins completed their recovery in the double-elimination competition by defeating Grace Christian Academy in Games 1 and 2 of the finals. The Eagles had a twice-to-beat in the championship round after sweeping their first three games and getting the first finals berth.

In Game 1, MHS and GCA went neck-and-neck in the early part of the first and second sets, but the Dolphins proved to be steadier in the homestretch to pull off a 25-19, 25-17 victory and set a rubber.

In the deciding Game 2, which was played 10 minutes after Game 1 and served as MHS’ fourth straight match last Saturday, the Dolphins showed little signs of exhaustion as they cruised to a 25-14 win in the opening set and moved closer to the title.

Then in the second set, fatigue started to take its toll on MHS, as Luther Lizama, Troy Ngirarois, and Benjami Seman hit wide shots and the rest of their teammates were a step slower in receiving the ball. The Eagles, on the other hand, seemed to have found their form with the championship on the line, as Allan Hinson and Eun Syu Hahn alternately soared for several spikes with Matthew Mamaril setting them up.

With the exchanges in the net favoring GCA, the Eagles built an 8-3 lead, forcing MHS to call an early timeout. After the brief lull, GCA still kept its momentum, while the Dolphins committed a couple of service errors and setting violations, allowing the Eagles to take a 13-7 advantage.

This time, MHS did not press the panic button, and Lizama and company regrouped with the lanky player’s spike over Hahn and Hinson tying the game, 14-all. GCA then regained the upper hand after winning the short exchange, 19-15, prompting MHS to call another timeout.

The Dolphins then fought back after the break and moved within one, 20-21. It was a close battle from thereon with the second set tied for the last time at 23-all, after Hahn’s spike slipped off Ngirarois’ hands.

GCA got the ball back with Mamaril serving and MHS received it before setting up Lizama for the kill with the leather passing in between two Eagles defenders and dropping to an unguarded spot at the center of GCA’s court. Lizama went on to finish off the Eagles with another booming spike that this time dropped to the backline with a GCA player receiving it, but his return went wide to the sideline.

GCA advanced to the finals first after beating Tinian High School in the winner’s bracket semis, 25-12, 15-21. Tinian dropped to the loser’s bracket and battled MHS for the last finals ticket. The Dolphins denied Tinian for the second time after posting a 25-18, 25-20 triumph. Before facing Tinian, MHS lost to GCA in the quarterfinals of the winner’s bracket, 25-18, 25-21, and had to beat Mt. Carmel School, 25-16, 25-22, and MHS junior varsity, 25-23, 24-26, 15-7, to keep its finals hopes alive.