By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Defending champion Mwaliyas are a set away from drawing first blood against Da Lani Kynez in their best-of-three semis series in the World Organized Rocball Community League.
The Mwaliyas swept the first three sets of Game 1 yesterday at the Marianas High School Gym and were leading, 49-29, before the match was halted, as students needed to return to class.
If the defending champions prevail in the fourth set today, they will be awarded a juiced-out win and will move a game away from clinching the first finals berth.
If Da Lani Kynez bounces back in the fourth set, Game 1 will go into overtime with the Mwaliyas needing only one set to end the match. Da Lani Kynez must prevail twice in the extension period to steal Game 1.
Da Lani Kynez gave the Mwaliyas a good fight in the opening set, as the former recovered from a 2-9 deficit before the defending champions pulled off a 16-12 triumph.
The Mwaliyas made it back-to-back set wins after posting a 17-10 victory in the second set.
The defending champions picked up where they left off notching a 16-7 win in the third set.
Darrel Roligat was leading the Mwaliyas with 10 points on three kees, one xunx and one ace. Shane Yamada has earned eight points on three kees and one ace.
Stephanie Arnold was pacing Da Lani Kynez with six points on one kee, one ace and one xunx.
No goals were scored in the first three sets of Game 1. Five aces, three xunxs and 15 kees have been scored so far in the series opener.
The other semis pairing, which will feature the Dublon Chiefs and Watch & Learn, might be played today if the Da Lanie Kynez-Mwaliyas tiff ends early.
The winners of the two semis series will square off in the championship round, which has a best-of-seven-games format.