SHARKS PULL OFF BIG WIN OVER TITANS

By Charlotte Oh

The Sanchez Sharks triumphed over the Tiyan Titans in a thrilling five-set showdown at the JFK gym on Tuesday night, as the ISA/IIAAG boys’ high school volleyball league continues to unfold. The Sharks finished with a tight score of 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, 19-25, 18-16. 

Two seniors paved the way for the Sharks’ offense: Captain Redlee Tigilmai, who finished with an impressive 17 kills and two aces, and Raynard Lazarus, who contributed another 11 kills.

“It felt good. It was a team effort. We all combined all our skills together,” Lazarus shared.

On the Titan side, hitters Skyler Blas and Nathan Aguigui led the charge, adding 13 and 12 kills, respectively. 

Set 1

The match kicked off with intense back-and-forth action, as both teams exchanged kills early.  Tigilmai led the way for Sanchez, pounding the ball into the floor to earn points. Tiyan had their own stars in Blas and Aguigui, keeping the score close through the midway point. At 15-12, Sanchez was leading by only a few when they suddenly took control of the set. With good defense on picking up tips and a strong setter-hitter chemistry, the Sharks crept farther away from the Titans. They only allowed three more points for the Titans before taking the set 25-14.

Set 2

In the second set, the Titans came out with renewed energy, determined to bounce back. Two consecutive kills from Aguigui combined with uncharacteristic mistakes from the Sharks, helped the Titans build a 12-4 lead. However, the Sharks weren’t ready to back down. Sophomore setter Joselito Garcia provided a strong backbone with consistent serves and sets, gradually closing the gap. With contributions from Phil Rodman and Jaron Flickinger, the Sharks fought back to tie the game at 21-21. The Sharks then took the remaining points from the Titans, finishing with an ace by Rodman to win 25-21.

Set 3

With victory seemingly within reach, the Sharks entered the third set with momentum and quick hits to take an early lead at 8-4. However, the Titans weren’t finished yet. Blas continued to dominate with powerful hits, and Christopher Ongpauco stepped up at the net, narrowing the score to 15-13. The determined Titans hustled on defense, tying the game at 18-18. Aguigui’s consistent attacks and two aces from Ashton Macapagal helped the Titans gain the upper hand. The Titans clinched the third set, 25-19.

Tigilmai reflected on the set, saying, “I think we could’ve done better in the third set, but we started getting tired.”

Set 4

The fourth set saw a burst of energy from the Titans, while the Sharks struggled with a slow start. Small errors allowed Tiyan to take a 15-10 lead. The Sharks went on to win the next four points and were able to close the gap, as the Titans also made a few errors. The minor setback didn’t faze the Titans, as they continued to work as a team throughout the set. Their hitters crushed balls past the blockers, while the Sharks missed crucial serves, allowing the Titans to take the set 25-19.

Set 5

Both teams entered the final set with high energy, eager to secure the win. Aguigui continued to shine for the Titans, while Tigilmai and Lazarus kept the pressure on for Sanchez. The game was filled with intensity as the teams fought for every point, tying at a nerve-wracking 15-15. The Sanchez team received helpful encouragement during breaks Tigilmai shared, “From our coaches, they said ‘mind over matter.’ We put away the tiredness and tried to finish the game.” After several long rallies and a back-and-forth score, the Sharks made a successful tip to end the match, 18-16.

Postgame, Lazarus reflected on the hard-fought victory: “I guess I just really wanted to win—that’s about it.”

In the JV game, the Sharks also emerged victorious in another tight match, winning 24-26, 25-20, 25-22.

OTHER GAMES

FD def. Guam High 25-10, 25-17, 25-17

GW def. St. Paul 25-20, 25-23, 26-24

JFK def. GAA 25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 25-18

Harvest def. Okkodo 25-16, 25-18, 25-15

Southern def. GACS 25-11, 25-10, 25-10