FRIARS VBALL BEGINS QUEST FOR 8 STRAIGHT

By Daniel Akimoto

The Father Dueñas Friars kicked off their quest for an eighth consecutive title Tuesday night, securing a straight-set victory over the Okkodo Bulldogs (25-11, 31-29, 25-20) to open the IIAAG/ISA Boys Volleyball season.

While the scoreboard showed a sweep, the perennial powerhouse Friars proved they are still shaking off early-season rust as they navigated a night defined by both offensive brilliance and unforced errors.

Match Breakdown

Set 1: Friars Assert Dominance (25–11)
FD wasted no time establishing their physical presence at the net. Despite a shaky start behind the service line—surrendering five points on missed serves—their front-row defense and transition scoring were overwhelming. The Bulldogs struggled to find an answer for the Friars’ height, resulting in a lopsided opening frame.

Set 2: The Marathon Set (31–29)
The Bulldogs showed their teeth in the second set, turning a potential blowout into a thriller. Capitalizing on a string of Friar hitting errors and continued service struggles, Okkodo pushed the defending champions to the limit. The two squads traded blows in a high-tension “win-by-two” marathon, but FDMS finally found the composure to edge out the win 31–29.

Set 3: Closing the Door (25–20)
The Friars regained their rhythm in the final frame. While Okkodo’s back-row defense remained scrappy, FDMS hitters—led by Saul Bamba—consistently found the floor. The Friars cleaned up their execution just enough to stifle any Bulldog comeback hopes, sealing the match with a 25-20 finish.

Top Performer
Saul Bamba (FD): Led the offensive charge with a match-high 12 kills.

The Road to Eight
Despite the win, the Friars remain self-critical. With seven straight championships in the trophy case, the expectations in Mangilao are nothing short of perfection.

“I think it was a good start. It was really fun,” said setter Kole Guerrero. “There’s a lot of stuff we still need to work on, but overall, it was a good one.”

The Friars have established themselves as the team to beat once again, but if Tuesday’s battle against Okkodo is any indication, the road to an eighth title will require tightening up the service game and minimizing errors before they reach championship form.

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