By Kolby Chang

The Okkodo Bulldogs bounced back from their first loss of the season in strong fashion by knocking off the defending champion GW Geckos 25-22, 25-23 in the IIIAAG Boys’ Volleyball League on Tuesday night at the GW gym. The Bulldogs improved to 6-1, while the Geckos fall to 5-3.

The HCA Eagles put the lone blemish on the Bulldogs’ record but Jeddou Antonio said his team learned a lot from the defeat.

“We needed to communicate more and stop getting down on each other,” Antonio said.

GW Geckos’ Allen Camacho kills the ball down the sideline to cut the lead by 2 points in the first set. (photo by Joey Blas)

The Bulldogs proved their mettle against the champs and kept their composure even with the Geckos fighting valiantly to the finish. Down by as much as five points late in the second set, the Geckos cut the lead to 23-21 after Allen Camacho crushed down a big kill.

Both teams exchanged errors on the next two plays to a make the score 24-22. With the Gecko faithful trying to rally their team to victory, Camacho put another kill past the Bulldog defense that nearly blew the roof off the gym.

Down by one, the Geckos couldn’t pull off the comeback as the Bulldogs’ Gary Aromin sent down a kill to seal the win.

“It takes a big weight off our chest,” Antonio said after the game.

The action was close from the beginning as the score was knotted at 20 late in the first set following a Gecko error. The home team recovered and went up by one after Devin San Agustin smashed down a kill.

A Bulldog error put the Geckos up two points but Antonio answered with a kill of his own. An ace from Aiden Ferrara and two more Antonio kills closed out the first set with the Bulldogs on top.

PHOTO GALLERY:

GW Mathew Soto gets the ball through a couple of blockers for the kill. (photo by Joey Blas)

Okkodo Ben Borja goes up and hits the ball down the sideline for the side out. (photo by Joey Blas)

Okkodo Aiden Ferrara goes up for the kill to increase the lead on the first set.(photo by Joey Blas)

Okkodo Aiden Ferrara serves against GW. (photo by Joey Blas)

GW Phillip Siguenza goes for the kill against Okkodo.(photo by Joey Blas)

GW Allen Camacho jump serves for the ace against Okkodo in the second set. (photo by Joey Blas)

Okkodo Aiden Ferrera and Jeddou Antonio team up to block a hit from Gecko outside hitter. (photo by Joey Blas)