FRIARS HOLD OFF KNIGHTS IN RIVETING MATCH

By Paradis J. Fejerang

The IIAAG/ISA High School Boys Volleyball League delivered one of its most thrilling matches of the season Tuesday night, as the Father Duenas Friars outlasted the St. John’s Knights in a five-set battle at the St. John’s Dale J. Jenkins Gymnasium.

Father Duenas emerged victorious after set scores of 25-21, 25-23, 16-25, 16-25, 15-6. The win was major for the Friars having to overcome a two-set surge from the Knights in a match defined by momentum swings, intensity, and high-level play on both sides with Players of the Game Saul Bamba and Jace Aguon standing out for FD.

The match pitted the last two unbeaten teams in the league with the playoffs just around the corner. In a matter of three days, the Knights hosted two matches between undefeated teams, with both going to five sets after taking down the Tiyan Titans on Saturday. The Friars improve to 9-0.

From the opening serve, it was clear both teams were prepared for a fight. The first set set the tone with good rallies and little separation on the scoreboard. While FD managed to pull away with just enough for a 25-21 win, the Knights immediately established themselves as a serious challenge, energizing both their home and opposing crowds to set up what would become a marathon of a match.

Set two proved even tighter. The Friars edged ahead once again, but only narrowly, holding off the constant push from St. John’s in order to secure a 25-23 victory and take a commanding 2-0 lead. Despite being one set away from closing out the match, the Friars remained cautious against the squad of Knights that have already proven their resilience throughout the season.

That caution proved warranted in the third set as St. John’s flipped the momentum entirely fueled by disciplined team play and chemistry developed over years of playing together. While the Friars began to falter, the Knights moved as a cohesive unit—communicating effectively, covering the court, and executing with fluidity. The result was a decisive 25-16 set win that shifted both energy and confidence toward the home team.

The fourth set continued in similar fashion, but with standout individual performances beginning to emerge. Outside hitter Knathan Davis found his rhythm, delivering powerful, nearly untouchable spikes while contributing on blocks and hustle plays. The strong team dynamic of the Knights was supported by middle blocker Andrew Baker and setter Jerrick Palomares, whose connection produced clean, efficient offense with the inclusion of fellow outside hitter Eric Kwon who added in both impressive spikes and smart court awareness as the Knights once again controlled the set, 25-16.

Set four also featured the most electrifying rally of the night—a prolonged, back-and-forth sequence that had all 12 athletes scrambling, diving, and resetting just to keep the ball alive. After multiple exchanges of free balls, spikes, and saves, the Knights finally secured the point, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The emotional toll of that rally appeared to linger as the Friars struggled to regain composure before eventually conceding the set.

With the match tied 2-2, momentum heavily favored St. John’s—but the final set told a different story.

FD entered set five with renewed intensity, attacking aggressively and dictating pace from the outset. In contrast, the Knights appeared hesitant, unable to replicate the control and rhythm that carried them through sets three and four. The Friars capitalized, building a quick lead and never looking back en route to a dominant 15-6 finish.

Bamba and Aguon led the charge for FD, combining for a powerful offensive presence that proved difficult to contain. Their athleticism and consistency served as both a scoring advantage and an intimidation factor at the net.

After the match, both players emphasized that the challenge was expected.

“Of course…we were expecting a big one. I mean, the practices leading up to this – it was all about energy and chemistry,” Aguon said.

“They’re a really good team. It was really tough but I feel like we wanted it more, we brought more energy and we really showed them this game,” Bamba added.

The Friars also credited their supporters for helping them push through in the decisive moments. According to Bamba, the strong presence of ‘Friar Nation’ in the stands “really brought us the motivation to kill them and have more energy this game.”

Looking ahead, FD now turns its attention to another major test as they prepare to go against the Tiyan Titans, a team already proven to be among the league’s elite.

“Tiyan really gave us a hard time during the preseason…but you never know. We’re not going to underestimate them. I heard they’re a really good team and I look forward to challenging them,” Bamba said.

“They’re obviously in the spotlight [of] the volleyball teams this season, so we just need to come out and play our best from start to finish,” Aguon added. 

“Yup. Bring all the energy – that’s all we need, for real, to win,” Bamba continued.

For Aguon, the match against St. John’s Knights provided a blueprint for what it will take to reach the championship.

“I think today was a very good representation of the energy that we need to bring because, obviously, St. John’s is a very high energy team. So, that’s what we really need to combat each and every team that we face leading up to the championship.”

As the Friars prepare, Bamba noted the team is implementing new techniques to counter Tiyan’s heavy hitters, while Aguon emphasized a focus on passing and defensive improvements.

Volleyball action resumes Thursday, May 7, with multiple matchups across the island. The Friars will return home Friday, May 8 to host the Titans, while the Knights will look to bounce back against the Simon Sanchez Sharks at the JFK gym.

The matchup between the Friars and the Knights has truly been the most intense battle of the season, proving that the road to the championship remains fiercely competitive.

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