Connect with us

GSPN

FRIARS RISE OVER EAGLES

Jeremiah Taitano and the FD Friars feel like they can hang with the best in the IIAAG Boys’ Volleyball League and they proved that with a rousing win over the first place Harvest Eagles on Friday night at the FD gym.

By Kolby Chang

Jeremiah Taitano and the FD Friars feel like they can hang with the best in the IIAAG Boys’ Volleyball League and they proved that with a rousing 25-16, 22-25, 27-25 win over the first place HCA Eagles on Friday night at the FD gym.

“We feel good but I guess we’re still not at our peak. I think we’re possibly the best team this season and we can only improve from here,” the team captain said when asked what a victory over the league’s top squad feels like.

Confidence is crucial in winning tight games especially with the league so top heavy this year. Taitano added that the Friars are riding high right now after a hard fought contest.

Players from Harvest and FD get up high as they try to get the ball of each others side of the court. (photo by Asha Robles)

Players from Harvest and FD get up high as they try to get the ball of each others side of the court. (photo by Asha Robles)

“We were hyped. We never had a crowd this big before. Our hits were connecting,” Taitano said.

The home team looked good from the start as they took the early lead and never relinquished it. The second set, however, was a different story as the Eagles came out guns blazing and got up 10-3 after Marlon Evans tipped the ball past the Friar defense. The visitors were still up big later in the set after Isiah Lagutang crushed down a kill to make it 19-12.

The Friars crept back into the fold with some sharp play and got within two points of the lead when Bruce Merrill fired off an ace to make the score 23-21. The home team tried but they couldn’t pull out the straight set victory as Evans closed out the set in favor of the Eagles with another tipped ball.

The two teams when punch for punch in the final set and the crowd seemed to love every minute of it as the gym resonated loudly with cheers after each point scored. With the set knotted at 19, an Eagles’ error swung the momentum over to the Friars but neither team could gain an sizable edge. It was tied again at 21 after Merrill threw down a kill. Shortly after the Eagles’ Jordan Javellana answered with a kill his own to tie it at 22.

Friars’ Jeremiah Taitano spikes the ball over the net. (photo by Asha Robles)

Friars’ Jeremiah Taitano spikes the ball over the net. (photo by Asha Robles)

The Friars had it at match point on what was initially ruled a kill but after a referee’s deliberation the call was reversed and the score was tied at 23. The Eagles seized the moment and went up by one after Kobe Sotello’s kill but the visitors committed an error on the next play to tie it once more. A Friars’ error put the Eagles up by one but Reynold Rokop shot down a kill and two consecutive errors by the Eagles sealed the win for the home team.

The Friars now stand at 6-3, while the Eagles drop to 7-2.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Bruce Merrill of the Friars jumps up high and gets ready to spike the ball. (photo by Asha Robles)

Bruce Merrill of the Friars jumps up high and gets ready to spike the ball. (photo by Asha Robles)

Libero Misaki Cramer of the Eagles gets low as he digs the ball.  (photo by Asha Robles)

Libero Misaki Cramer of the Eagles gets low as he digs the ball. (photo by Asha Robles)

Eagles’ setter Marlon Evans kneels down as he sets up his teammate. (photo by Asha Robles)

Eagles’ setter Marlon Evans kneels down as he sets up his teammate. (photo by Asha Robles)

Justin Dimla of the Friars makes a big block as he defends his side of the net. (photo by Asha Robles)

Justin Dimla of the Friars makes a big block as he defends his side of the net. (photo by Asha Robles)

Isiah Lagutang of the Eagles blasts the ball over Friar blockers. (photo by Asha Robles)

Isiah Lagutang of the Eagles blasts the ball over Friar blockers. (photo by Asha Robles)

Friars’ Jeremiah Taitano gets up as he tips the ball over an Eagles’ blocker.(photo by Asha Robles)

Friars’ Jeremiah Taitano gets up as he tips the ball over an Eagles’ blocker.(photo by Asha Robles)

Ad

GPS Sports Calendar

June

July 2025

August
SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
29
30
1
2
3
4
5
Events for June

1st

Events for July

2nd

Events for July

3rd

Events for July

4th

Events for July

5th

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Events for July

6th

Events for July

7th

Events for July

8th

Events for July

9th

Events for July

10th

Events for July

11th

Events for July

11th

No Events
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Events for July

12th

No Events
Events for July

13th

No Events
Events for July

14th

No Events
Events for July

15th

No Events
Events for July

16th

No Events
Events for July

17th

No Events
Events for July

18th

No Events
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Events for July

19th

No Events
Events for July

20th

No Events
Events for July

21st

No Events
Events for July

22nd

No Events
Events for July

23rd

No Events
Events for July

24th

No Events
Events for July

25th

No Events
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for July

26th

No Events
Events for July

27th

No Events
Events for July

28th

No Events
Events for July

29th

No Events
Events for July

30th

No Events

COMING SOON …

FD Alumni Basketball Tournament June 27-July 18

Pacific Mini Games June 29-July 9

 

QUICK HITS

Guam’s Jeremiah Camacho shot a perfect game at the 48th Hong Kong Open. The 22-year-old Guam National Team Member shot his 18th career perfect game on lanes 1 and 2 at Top Bowl Lanes in Hong Kong.
————————————————–
Guam’s athletes performed well in the Spartan Race in Capas Tarlac, Philippines, picking up two division wins and two 2nd place finishes.
Belen Sidell 43 yrs (1st)
Phil Law 58 yrs (1st)
Tess Esma 48 yrs (2nd)
James Sardea 55 yrs (2nd)
Charles Esma 18 yrs (12th)

More in GSPN