By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
PANTHEON claimed the men’s division championship of the 2025 Agape Christmas Volleyball Tournament after a grueling five-set battle against 4 Starz at the Agape Christian School gym on Saturday night.
The championship match was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams showing elite defensive skills and powerful offensive finishes.
Pantheon opened the match strong, using their height at the net to stifle 4 Starz’s attacks. Mokyang Kim and Shadrach Coleman led the offensive effort with powerful spikes, while Jermaine Salas, TJ Saures, and Mark Sapio anchored the defense with timely blocks. Pantheon edged the opening set, 25-22.
The second set saw Pantheon continue their momentum. Capitalizing on miscommunications and errors by 4 Starz, they pulled away with a series of dominant spikes to secure a 25-14 win, taking a two-set lead.
Refusing to go down without a fight, 4 Starz regrouped in the third set. Led by Ko Kumuch’s front-hand power and the veteran presence of Nakashima Nakashima, the team executed multiple diving saves and precision returns to capture a hard-fought 27-25 victory.
Fueled by the momentum, 4 Starz carried their intensity into the fourth set. Key contributions from Marc Danga, Maui Taijeron, and Lowell Lumaug helped them win 25-19, forcing a decisive fifth set.
In the final set, Pantheon regained composure. Their defensive depth proved too much for 4 Starz, and several unreturnable spikes secured a 15-11 victory, clinching the men’s division championship.
Pantheon roster: Jermaine Salas, Mokyang Kim, Gregory Perez, Shadrach Coleman, TJ Saures, Mark Sapio, Achilles Evangelista, Yuling Chai.
4 Starz roster: Nakashima Nakashima, Ko Kumuch, Marc Danga, Maui Taijeron, Alfredo Guevarra, Jason Limes, Ben Olopai, Robert Billy, DJ Joab, Allen Cabrera, Gino Asauo, Lowell Lumaug, Nilo Calimag.
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
