Connect with us

Volleyball

VENTURA BLASTS WARRIORS PAST FRIARS

St. Paul star records season-high 21 kills

By Nick Akimoto

In a critical must-win game, the St. Paul Warriors finally find themselves on the winning side of another five-set match 17-25, 25-20, 18-25, 25-18, 15-9 over the Father Duenas Friars, who now find themselves on a two-game skid in the IIAAG Boys Volleyball League.

There is perhaps no greater testament to the parity of the league than to consider the idea that the Warriors were “struggling” going into this game, but the Warriors knew that they had to prove they were better than their record would lead you to believe. 

And it was senior star Rui Ventura who carried the Warriors to victory with a season-high 21 kills.

“We thought if we beat one of the best teams in the league, it will make people respect us,” said outside hitter Nate Hodges. Hodges recorded 10 kills on the night, but the Warriors thrived off of the booming hits delivered by Ventura. 

“What really helped us in this game was our energy. It was all about our energy, communication, and knowing what to fix.”

– St. Paul star Rui Ventura

Ventura’s energy was vital to the Warriors’ game plan throughout the match, but his contributions were most felt in the crucial fourth set, in which Ventura recorded eight kills. 

“It was 2-1. It was in my mind that we can’t lose this set. I’m willing to get every set and smash the ball to win the set. I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Ventura. 

First Set 

At first, things were clicking for FD. As Connor Balajadia set for the Friar offense, he would help Hoben Barcinas, Joseph Mafnas, David Del Carmen and Kyler Alcantara grab two kills each in the first set. On the other side of the net, St. Paul was looking to get more of their players involved, but a service error would ultimately give the Friars the first set.

Second Set 

After a relatively smooth first set, hitting errors began to plague the Friar offense, and St. Paul took advantage. Raven Pascual would find Elijah Bautista and Corey Perez to help them earn two kills in addition to Ventura’s four in the set to help get the Warriors fired up. Del Carmen would clock in five kills in the set for FD, but it would not be enough to prevent the Warriors from tying it 1-1. 

Third Set 

With things tied, Noah Cruz, Mafnas and Del Carmen put in work for the Friars offense, combining for 10 kills to help them win the set despite Ventura recording another four kills for the Warriors. Hodges began to heat up as well, slamming in two kills, but FD would go into the fourth set up 2-1. 

Fourth Set 

With the Warriors’ backs against the wall, setter Pascual would find Ventura on the right side to help him record his eight kills in the set. Meanwhile, Hodges would contribute four big kills to help the Warriors tie things up and force a fifth and final set.

Fifth Set 

The Friars’ hitting troubles would finally catch up to them, as they would give away ten points off of hitting and service errors. On the other end, the Warriors’ bench had come alive as each of Ventura’s three kills in the set were followed by an uproar of Warrior cheers. 

“This was a big one. Despite our losing record, our team has potential and I know we can go all the way, but we still need to perfect some things because every team is getting better just like us” said Pascual. “Even though we had a 1-3 record, I knew that (our) team is better than we think.”

JV Game

The Friars won the JV game two sets to one.

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

12th

13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Events for July

13th

Events for July

14th

Events for July

15th

Events for July

16th

Events for July

17th

Events for July

18th

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 Playoffs

 

QUICK HITS

Guam Volleyball Federation Referee Delegation for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Referees were able to certify in both Beach and Indoor Volleyball.
L-R: (front row) Kohl Laguna, Jay Cruz, Kadance Sablan, Jim Reyes, Logan Pangelinan; (back row) Jack, Hattig, Ray Mesngon, Joe Aquino, Chris Shepherd, PJ Pangelinan
————————————————–
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.

More in Volleyball