By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE defending champion Mwaliyas recovered from an opening set loss to lead Kich Fairo in the World Organized Rocball Community League yesterday at the Marianas High School Gym.
The Mwaliyas bowed to Kich Fairo in the first set, 10-15, but bounced back in the second with a 15-11 triumph.
The defending champions were three points away from nailing back-to-back set wins, as they were leading Kich Fairo in the third set, 12-1.
The game was temporarily halted, as students needed to return to class. The match resumes today with the Mwaliyas’ Shane Yamada serving.
If the Mwaliyas prevail in the third set, Kich Fairo must win the fourth set to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, the leading team must win only one set to claim the game, while the trailing squad needs to prevail in two sets.
A Mwaliyas victory in the third and fourth set would give the defending champions their second win in as many games in the second round of the annual tournament.
It would also put the Mwaliyas on top of the team standings.
The Mwaliyas currently share the top spot with Watch & Learn and Black Magic, which won their opening matches in the second round.
A Kich Fairo loss would drop the team to a 0-2 record. Kich Fairo lost its debut game in the second round bowing to Black Magic. Da Lani Kynez and the Dublon Chiefs also dropped their first matches.
The six teams that advanced to the second round will have only five games
The top four teams after the round-robin second round will move into the semifinals with the No. 1 team meeting the No. 4 squad for the first finals berth. The No. 2 and 3 teams will battle for the last championship berth.
The crossover semifinals will have a best-of-three sets format, while the title match will be a best-of-five affair.
Five aces, four xunxs and eight kees were so far scored in the Mwaliyas-Kich Fairo tiff.
Yamada was leading the defending champions with 10 points on four kees and a xunx, while Gary Philip chipped in eight on three aces and a kee.
Tom Malone scored four points for Kich Fairo on a xunx and an ace.