GECKOS WIN U19 BOYS VOLLEYBALL TOURNEY

By Robert Balajadia

The GW Geckos were out for a bit of redemption all U19 boys volleyball tournament long which fuelled their two-set championship game win over the Harvest Eagles after defeating the Okkodo Bulldogs in the semifinals.

GW got through a close first set and momentum carried them in the second set winning 21-19, 21-16 over the Eagles and tournament MVP Marlon Evans.

The top seeded Eagles had to fight off the visiting team from Yap in the semifinals after beating them 21-12, 21-15. GW went into a three-set thriller with the Bulldogs 22-20, 17-21, 21-19 giving shades of the championship game from a week ago where the Bulldogs claimed the 2015 IIAAG title.

Nathaniel Kyle Gaitan got the last word of the game, getting his spike through two Eagle defenders for the win. (photo by Dan Paran)

With that in mind, the Geckos were playing hungry. Allen “Arm Cannon” Camacho took over a tie game while serving, getting a pocket of aces to take an 11-6 lead. The Eagles defeated the Geckos in pool play in two sets and they started to click midway through after trailing 17-13.

Two errors by the Geckos and a big block on Camacho by Evans pulled the Eagles within two, 18-16. Eagles Kobe Sotelo tied the game at 18 with a clean return off his own serve, but the Eagles faulted on back-to-back plays to give GW the first set.

The Geckos didn’t allow the Eagles to get back into the game during the second set after pulling away following a big block from Noah Blas to go up 14-10. Sean Duenas and Camacho scored on a pair of kills to take a 17-12 lead, eventually taking down the Eagles to win the set.

Bulldogs Need Three VS Yap

The 2015 IIAAG champion Bulldogs haven’t lost a game all year until falling to the Geckos in the semifinals. After cruising to a 21-9 first set victory, the Bulldogs moved positions around in the second set and Yap was able to take advantage.

Yap’s heavy hitters Jordan Mautaman and Eric Tharngan led the charge in the second set after stunning the Bulldogs with a 6-0 run to take a commanding 16-12 lead. The errors for Okkodo came in bunches allowing Yap to take the second set to force the third and final set.

Bulldog Aiden Ferrara let loose for three kills in the final set with Okkodo able to hold off the hot hand of Mautaman for the close 21-18 win.

Bulldogs Brian Crowe and Aiden Ferrara fly in for a block on Team Yap’s outside hitter. (photo by Dan Paran)

PHOTO GALLERY:

The GW Geckos and Harvest Eagles pose together after the U19 tournament’s conclusion. (photo by Dan Paran)

Mat Soto of the GW Geckos smashes home a kill past the Eagles defense. (photo by Dan Paran)

Kyle Gaitan tries to find a space in-between the tall Eagles front line. (photo by Dan Paran)

Dev San Augustin of the Geckos puts away a volley for his team to keep a mid-game lead. (photo by Dan Paran)

Team Yap and the 3rd place Okkodo Bulldogs pose after their consolation game. (photo by Dan Paran)