THE Public School System Boys Middle School 4v4 Grass Volleyball League finale was as exciting as it could get as the Tanapag Middle School Tatagas snatched the title from the claws of the Grace Christian Academy Eagles, 21-18, Saturday at the CPA Airport Field.
GCA seemed to have the championship in the bag as they cleared a path in the double-elimination tournament with a 3-0 record.
Tanapag had a similar record, but the Tatagas lost to GCA in their first match and had to fight their way back up.
After eliminating Saipan International School 2, TMS once again faced GCA in a rematch.
This time, the Tatagas gave it their all as they not only battled against the Eagles, but against the wind as well.
It was a fairly even match with TMS’ Jerome Manzon on the frontline of the offensive assault while GCA matched up with balanced teamwork orchestrated by Sui Yi. Neither team was able to gain a comfortable lead.
GCA’s chemistry was on point as Theodore Rodgers and Tyron Saures set up countless spike opportunities for Sui as the Eagles took an 18-15 lead.
However, the Tatagas returned fire with set ups of their own supported by Justin and Javen Camacho along with Keahi Omapas as Manzon cleaned up each play with devastating spikes as TMS took control, eventually winning the first set, 25-23.
As it was a best-of-three format, TMS needed to win one more set in order to hand the GCA Eagles their very first loss in the tournament.
TMS did not disappoint with more aggressive attacks powered by Manzon’s accurate spikes as the Tatagas notched a second set victory, 21-16.
But GCA still had one more chance at the title.
With the wind as an added factor to the game, both teams struggled to get in good serves but through smart plays they kept the action going.
TMS was again the aggressor, but GCA never backed down and took each shot head-on with a handful of defensive scores led by Sui.
But in the final few possessions of the game, TMS’ Manzon unleashed powerful spikes that rendered GCA defenseless and gave the Tatagas the boys middle-school crown, 21-18.
“It felt really good to win the championship because our school have never won a championship in volleyball,” Manzon told Variety. “And I also wanted to make it count since it is my last year at TMS, so I’m very proud of my boys. It was a really good day!”
Tanapag Middle School’s Jerome Manzon connects the spike as a Grace Christian Academy defender rises for the block during the championship game of the PSS Boys 4v4 Grass Volleyball League, Saturday, at the CPA Airport Field.
Photo by James F. Sablan Jr.
The victorious Tanapag Middle School Tatagas pose with the championship plaque of the PSS Boys 4v4 Grass Volleyball League on Saturday at the CPA Airport Field.
Photo James F. Sablan Jr.
