Connect with us

GSPN

KNIGHTS WIN MS BOYS VOLLEYBALL TITLE

After 14 years, the St. John’s Knights boys middle volleyball team can finally raise their championship banner after finishing the season with a 9-1 record.

By Jay Leon Guerrero
For GSPN

After 14 years, the St. John’s Knights boys middle volleyball team can finally raise their championship banner after finishing the season with a 9-1 record.

The Knights clinched the title with a thrilling three set victory over the Bishop Obispos (21-25, 25-16, 15-10).

“I’m really happy we were able to win the championship for my team. It’s my 8th grade year and I hope other teams can follow as well,” said St Johns’ Erren Chen. Chen and fellow eighth-grader Adam Cruz led the Knights with six kills each.

Obispos take first set

Knights Eren Chen and Adam Cruz

The Knights looked nervous in the opening set as the crowd packed their home gym and watched as they trailed 0-8 to the visiting Bishop team. Russell Maratita had two kills for the Obispos in the opening run as the (6-4) Bishop team looked to spoil the Knights’ championship hopes.

“I was down at that point; thinking if we lose this game that all the hard work we put in this season would be gone,” said Chen.

The Knights bounced back to tie the game late in the opening set but Bishop was able to secure the first set with Nathan Torres recording a key block and setter Thomas Moylan putting up accurate sets to Maratita to get the victory in the opening set. Maratita looked unstoppable in the first set with four kills as the Obispos won 25-21.

It’s not over!

St John’s head coach Arvin Flores settled his team down and looked to seize momentum in the second set. “The game is not over. You’ve work hard for this. Don’t just give it away,” said Flores between sets.

The Obispos looked to win in two sets and led early in the set but the Knights finally found their groove. Chen got the crowd cheering with two consecutive statement kills in the second set as the Knights were able to go ahead by eleven points and eventually take the second set 25-16.

Knight team captain Cruz guided his team to victory in the decisive third set. After Maratita put Bishop ahead 5-2 to in the final set, Cruz recorded a kill and an ace for the Knights as they surged ahead 8-7.  Setter Kyle Wang was also clutch with accurate sets to hook up the outside hitters which allowed the Knights back in the third set.

Bishop head coach Steve Pangelinan called out plays to try and get the young  Obispos back in the game but a pair of unforced errors had his team trailing 8-11.

Andrew Stenson stepped up for the Knights in a crucial sequence of the game, recording a kill from the back row and later serving an ace to put St Johns ahead 13-9. Bishop dug deep and managed a side out but another error had the Knights on the brink of a championship leading 14-10.

Brock Larsen from the Knights served the final point, an ace, to give the Knights the championship with a 15-10 third set victory.

“The coaches message going into the second set was to just execute on the set plays and we did a better job of it in the second set,” said Cruz. “We are leaving something very good behind us and I hope the next team can do the same,” added Cruz.

Maratita had a game high eight kills for Bishop, Blake Heflin recorded three kills and two blocks. Cruz and Chen each recorded six kills for the Knights, Andrew Leng had a game high four blocks.

Flores, in his third year as the head coach for the Knights, thanked assistant coaches Chris Shepherd and Andy Yao and manager Stacey Yamazaki for their help during the season. “They covered for me at practice when I had my college classes. I would especially like to thank my team amd also the SJS fans for making this the most memorable season of my life,” said Flores.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

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