SIS sweeps MCS in finale

Saipan International School’s Luther Lizama goes up for a slide attack against three Mt. Carmel School blockers during the second set of their title game in the boys high school division of the COPSSA volleyball league yesterday at the SIS court in As Lito. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Saipan International School 1 recovered from a slow start to beat Mt. Carmel School, 25-22, 25-13, in their title match in the boys high school division of the 2015-2016 Coalition of Private Schools Sports Association Volleyball League yesterday at the Geckos’ court in As Lito.

The Geckos fell behind early, 3-11, before rallying back in the first set. Then in the second set it pulled away after MCS knotted the count at 5-all to clinch the division championship.

The Knights enjoyed the 8-point advantage in the opening set behind the booming spikes of Seok Jun Yun, who also drew some help from Quinn Amog, while SIS 1 could not get their offense going, starting out flat in its home turf.

Sensing trouble, SIS 1 coach Mychal Omar sued for time and told his boys to hit down the line, just like that they did against GCA in the semifinals, going for the spikes outside the Knights’ blockers and looking for open space at the back line.

When the game resumed, SIS outscored MCS, 13-4, to force a deadlock, 15-all. Luther Lizama had several points in the rally off his spikes and on a few occasions also tricked the Knights blockers with his dinks. Credit also went to Allen Cepeda and Colin Ramsey, who set up Lizama for those spikes.

After the first standoff, the opposing teams went back and forth in the ensuing plays with the set tied for the last time at 19-all after SIS blockers foiled a spike from Amog.

Another SIS block—against the lanky Yun—gave the Geckos the lead and they moved within two points from wrapping up the set after a dink from Colin Ramsey, 23-20. However, two errors from SIS—Allen’s short service and Lizama’s wide spike—kept the Knights’ hopes alive, 22-23.

Amog then tried to knot the count with a spike, but was blocked by Daniel Lim. Lim served for the game point with the ball dropping to the right back corner of MCS’ court and two Knights players struggling for the dig. The Knight failed to return the ball after three touches with the third shot hitting the net.

In the second set, Mt. Carmel attempted to gain lost ground and was a bit successful in the early goings, but faded away in the succeeding phase of the match as SIS was really in a zone with Lim and Lizama again alternately hitting those big spikes and Allen and Colin Ramsey setting them up. Quintin Ramsey also played well, getting those serves in, while Chan Woo Jeong occasionally came into the picture, unloading a couple of spikes. Jason Kim and Young Jin Jung provided quality minutes receiving returns from the Knights and letting their other teammates score the points.

After MCS evened up the count, 5-all, SIS had a killer 11-0 spurt capped by Jeong’s spike against the much smaller Amog. In that Geckos rally, the Knights called two timeouts, hoping to douse cold water to a fiery run from SIS, but they simply could not stop Lim and company. Lim scored at least four hits down the line, while the Ramsey siblings had one ace apiece.

The Knights finally ended their silence with a block on Jeong, however SIS was quick to retaliate and duplicated its biggest lead in the second set, 23-12, after an ace from Lizama. Lizama served anew and there was a bit of a rally before the ball dropped past the service area off a wide return from MCS’ Darian Salas. Lizama served anew for the match point and the Knights managed to return the shot. However, Lim came out soaring for another line hit and the ball went over the left back side of MCS with J.D. Pangelinan receiving it, but had an errant return to the SIS side with Jeong letting it go past the line to win it for the Geckos.

SIS , which also had Alfredo Guevarra and Mili Saiki as coaches, was presented with the championship trophy after the title match, while MCS went home with the runner-up award.

Meanwhile, it’s another SIS-MCS title showdown in the girls high school title match today, while the final pairing in the co-ed middle school has yet to be announced as results of yesterday’s semis matches were unavailable at press time.