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Spikers dominate February honors
Ball Crushers’ Alfredo Guevarra, left, and John Legacion both get ready to bump the ball during their game against Serve It & 4Get It during their game in the 2017 VolleyTine Tournament late last month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Volleyball’s Alfredo Guevarra, Tazha Deleon Guerrero, and Carol Mae Lumasag and swimming’s Isaiah Aleksenko were named athletes of the month for February during the Northern Marianas Sports Association meeting last Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium conference room.
Guevarra was voted NMSA Male Athlete of the Month after he suited up for Ball Crushers in the just concluded VolleyTine Tournament.
Ball Crushers heavily relied on Guevarra’s attacks to secure the championship of the competition organized by the Northern Mariana Islands Volleyball Association as their opponents had difficulty stopping him from scoring. He also was lauded for his quiet sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
For her part, Deleon Guerrero was named NMSA Female Athlete of the Month after her exceptional stint in the same VolleyTine Tournament where she led Goal Diggers to the championship of the women’s division.
With her consistent passes, sets, serves, and kills Deleon Guerrero was able to help her team go undefeated throughout the tournament. In fact, she was the only female player to successfully hit a 1 (low, quick set) during the VolleyTine Tournament.
Deleon Guerrero’s teammate Lumasag, meanwhile, is NMSA’s Female Student Athlete of the Month in February for the improvement she showed during the VolleyTine Tournament.
A mainstay of the Marianas High School varsity volleyball squad, Lumasag adjusted well on the court with advance players and managed to keep up with their momentum during the tournament. Despite the difference in playing skills and experience, Lumasag proved herself by hustling for the ball, executing hits, and being consistent on her serves.
NMSA Male Student Athlete of the Month Aleksenko won the February honor after his performance in the 2017 Saipan Swim Club Pentathlon Swimming Meet where the Saipan Community School student broke the CNMI record in the 50m backstroke for the 9-10 age group.
Aleksenko swam the event in 37.29 last Feb. 18 to best the 38.13 Ryuto Yanai set in May 2014. The Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan wunderkind has only been swimming for the past two years, which makes his record-breaking performance last month more amazing.
