By Kolby Chang

The FD Friars improved their record to 2-0 after dispatching the St. Paul Warriors 25-20, 24-19 in the IIAAG Boys’ Volleyball League on Tuesday night at the St. Paul gym. Team captain Jeremiah Taitano was pleased to see how much the Friars improved since their season opener against Guam High School this past weekend.

Warriors’ John San Andres gets blocked by Friars Jeremiah Taitano and Javier Dimla. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

“We worked better as team. We struggled a little bit on the block in the beginning and even towards the end. They got a few through us but besides that our coverage improved throughout the game. We managed to keep them at bay,” Taitano said.

With the season just starting to unfold Taitano is aware that there is always room for improvement.

“We need to work on passing. Our passes aren’t getting to the setter and most of the time the setter has to run. It’s an off-set and our kills aren’t efficient enough,” he said.

The Warriors managed to keep the first set within their reach but were unable to close the gap and overtake the lead. The Warriors’ John San Andres threw down a big kill after getting a nice set from Terrance Lopez to get within eight points of the Friars. Taitano answered a few plays later with a kill of his own to make the score 23-17.

An error by the Warriors on the next play put it at set point but Adrian Manasala hammered down a kill to give the home team possession of the ball. The Friars’ Eric Ada dashed the Warriors’ hopes of a comeback as he received a clean set from Reynold Rokop and blasted down a kill.

The Warriors battled until the end and were only down by one point after a Friars’ error made the score 11-10. Taitano, however, shifted the momentum in favor of the visitors when he got a big block and then crushed a kill to put the Friars up 17-11.

Several plays later the Friars’ Justin Dimla tipped the ball past the Warrior defense to make the score 22-17. Two consecutive errors by the Warriors put the game at match point but Brian Tsuji flew in for the kill and gave the home team a chance to rally. The Friars’ Dinelo Tenorio, however, slammed down a kill on the next play to end the game.

Other Scores

Southern def. St. John’s 25-23, 25-16

Guam High def. ND 25-14, 12-25, 25-20

PHOTO GALLERY:

Friars Jeremiah Taitano spikes the ball through the Warriors’ defense. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

The Friars celebrate after the win over the Warriors. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Friars Justin Dimla serves a ball past the Warriors blockers. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Friars Jeff Ochavillo gets ready for the oncoming serve. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Warriors John San Andres meets FD Friars blocker Eric Ada in mid air. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Friars’ Javier Dimla serves in the second set. (photo by Robert Balajadia)