MCS crowned new champs of girls v-ball

MCS crowned new champs of girls v-ball

A new champion emerged as the Mount Carmel School Lady Knights stood firm against a relentless Tanapag Middle School Tatagas team during a nail-biting finals...

A new champion emerged as the Mount Carmel School Lady Knights stood firm against a relentless Tanapag Middle School Tatagas team during a nail-biting finals in the NMIVA-PSS Interscholastic Girls Middle School Volleyball League 2024-2025 at the Marianas High School Gymnasium last Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Knights had a one set advantage after they coasted undefeated through the season and only needed to win two sets in the best-of-five championship series.

They won it all after a deciding fifth set, but they went through the wringer against a fiery TMS squad. The Tatagas secured the first, 21-18, but MCS bounced back in the second, 21-15. MCS couldn’t quite shake off TMS in the third though as they forced a final set in a close match, 23-21. After almost two hours, MCS finally took home the trophy after they clinched the last set, 15-8.

TMS faced off against MCS earlier in the morning during the winner’s bracket semifinals but lost in two straight sets. They then pushed three-time defending champions Grace Christian Academy Lady Eagles to third place after defeating them in three sets during the loser’s bracket semifinals before the finals.

Then, with everything on the line, the Tatagas hoped to exact revenge in the finals and bring the trophy to the north side. However, the Lady Knights remained resilient and fought hard to secure the championship.

Despite the exhilarating clutch win to force a final set, TMS were rooted as MCS cruised to a 4-1 lead in their last hoorah. MCS’ Miana Dela Cruz served up a multitude of aces throughout the match and came up on a big spot for the last time to get them to an 8-5 advantage.

Paige Muna then sealed the victory by serving the final points, as TMS struggled to keep the ball in play, ultimately conceding the championship to MCS.

MCS’ roster, made up of Mia Guerrero, Miana Dela Cruz, Adele Kautz, Claudine Masga, O-ren Sasamoto, Neia Tagabuel, Paige Muna, Aliyani Basa, Zoey Kwak, Sofia Dimafelix, Trisha Abuan, and Heaven Deleon Guerrero, all exploded with emotion as they wrapped up their perfect season with the title.

The TMS team included Ziella Sablan, Jonielle Sablan, Miku Sharry, Mia Rogopes, Kaleenamae Ada, Sheryl Vinuya, Aaleyah Fatialofa, Cheyenne Camacho, Kayshlie Aguon, Telinamae Mality, Isabella Cruz, Chloe Achas, Cali Reyes, Elena Taisacan, and Sarah Sharry.

Twelve-year-old Dela Cruz said of their finals, “It was really hard but we fought to the end, and we wanted it, so we earned it… I’m really sad that we won’t get to play with all the players next year, but I’m really glad we won.”

In the final set, she said what was going through her mind was, “I knew that we could earn it, so all of us worked for it and we got it.” She then thanked her teammates and said, “they supported me through my journey in volleyball and I love all of them.”

MCS coach, athletics director, and P.E teacher Francis San Nicolas, for his part said, “It was all hard work. It was a competitive and very challenging match, but we pulled it through. There was a lot of back-and-forth and it was tough—my girls were too emotional… I told them in practice this is going to happen and it did happen.”

Their strategy he said, “in the final set, just bring the ball over and see what happens—just got to stay focused and enjoy the game as well. We would get too emotional but we got to keep it together.”

He then thanked the parents, supporters, teachers, and especially God.