By Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway
Pinas Power’s Kieshel Aquino, won most digs (20) and most kills (47)
Pinas Power overcame a two set 19-25 and 23-25 deficit, to even the sets with 25-14 and 25-23, forcing a deciding fifth set, in Sunday’s Firebirds Volleyrama Tournament in Sea Cows Bay. Pinas Power found themselves in a fifth set 8-11 hole before outscoring Set It Off, 7-1, to win the set 15-12 and claim the inaugural title.
Pinas Power advanced to the final by stopping Favored, 25-12 and 25-19, while Set It Off fended off Thunder Mix, 25-22 and 25-22.
“We’re so happy, we’re so elated, everything that’s joyful,” Pinas Power Captain Marianne Harry told Island Sun Sports. “We were in a deficit in the first two sets, but we really took it back in the third and fourth sets, because we really, really wanted this. We practiced for this. We spoke about it. I took it on myself to be the one to ensure everything was in place and overall, I really believe our team could have done it.”
Harry said she was proud of server Maiden Caraos who served out the game when they went on a 7-1 run after trailing 8-11, to close out the games 15-12. She said that they got a bit excited and their initiatives got over them. “We reset in our minds, told each other we could do it, and it’s just three points,” she said of the deficit. “We’ve beaten the team before and I knew we could have done it again, so all we had to do was look for the weakest link, and get the ball over the net.”
Playing Thunder Mix while Pinas Power rested after their semifinal, Set It Off coach Raymond “Chi Chi” Fonseca said his team was fatigued. “We started serving terribly in the last three to four sets and that was all fatigue,” he said. “I have to give the team heart of a champion, but I have to commend those guys, but again I think fatigue was a factor.”
Looking at the growth of the team over the last three weeks, Fonseca said that two players who couldn’t pass over hand, served consistently all night. “The service and the overhead pass were areas of improvement,” he said. “But it was a good tournament.”
Firebirds president and tournament coordinator Chelsea Hodge, said that the tournament has been an ‘exciting experience.’ “Especially tonight, the teams fought it out to death. She said Set It Off started off rocky but they came back and played well. “We thought they were going to go with the whole thing, point for point, bit for pit, you could see that Pinas Power was hungrier than Set It Off than they were to make sure that they go home with that win overall. “We’re just proud and appreciative of the support from the fans that stayed with us until after 11, but it’s just overwhelming, really exciting and I’m just proud of the turnout.”
Most Digs: Kieshel Aquino, Pinas Power, 20 digs. Most Receptions: Kieshel Aquino, Pinas Power, 47. Most Blocks: Kimberly Joseph, Thunder Mix, 8. Most Kills: Neisa Lloyd, Favored, 18. Most Effective Setter: Amiah Mofford, Set It Off, 6 sets leading to a kill. Most Aces: Cecilia Aquino, Pinas Power, 15. Most improved Player: Kezia “Gremlin” Gumbs, Set It Off. Most Valuable Player: Marianne Harry, Pinas Power.
