Volleyball / Soccer

[Feger]

9 teams register to play in high school rocball

By Daniel S. Buniag
For Marianas Variety

NINE teams have registered to play in the 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League.

The first three teams that signed up were the Ballers, Kich Fairo and Mwaliyas. The names of the other teams will be announced later.

The league will start either later this month or early next month.
Last year?s heavy hitter Shane Yamada will be joining the Mwaliyas again and he hopes to lead the team to their third straight title.

The teams that joined last year?s WOR were Black Magic, Malat, Lagooners, Caropino, Ochobu, Mwaliyas, Just for Fun, and Brothers & Sisters.

In last year?s best-of-five finals series, the Mwaliyas took back-to-back titles after beating Ochobu in Game 5 at the Marianas High School Gym.
In Game 1, Ochobu stunned the Mwaliyas in overtime, 83-57.

The Mwaliyas tied the series at 1-all bouncing back in Game 2, 53-52.
Ochobu was a win away from thrashing the Mwaliyas after it took Game 3 with an easy win, 62-37.

But Ochobu failed to complete the job early, as it was crushed by the Mwaliyas, who pulled off a 67-43 juiced out win in Game 4.

The Mwaliyas dominated Ochobu in Game 5 with a 79-67 win and successfully defended their title.

This year, teachers are said to be interested in forming a team and are trying to make a big push against the students.

[Feger]

WOR SPORTS

Mwaliyas Overtaken by Ballers

By Eric Palacios
For Pacific Daily News

SAIPAN -- The World Organized Rocball two-time defending champion Mwilayas lost their 2006 preseason opener against a determined Ballers squad yesterday at the Marianas High School gym.

After losing the first set 16-14, the Ballers came alive in the second set to win 15-4. They scored four points in the third set before time expired to win by a combined 33-25 differential.

Leading everyone was Mwilayas' heavy hitter Shane Yamada, who finished with four aces and two kees for a total of 12 points. The Ballers' Nate Mateo scored the only goal by either team and added an ace to finish with five points.

Preseason games continue the rest of this week. Season under wayThe Mwilayas head a field of 10 teams in WOR play at the MHS. The 2006-07 season officially gets under way in about a week.

"The teams (started the season yesterday) with this preseason tournament," MHS athletic director Jim Feger said. Leading Mwilayas in its quest for a third straight WOR title is Yamada. The squad also has last season's entire lineup: Denri Fiden, Pedro Iguel, Ben Lisua, K Norich, Gary Phillip and Darrel Roligat.

Now entering its 23rd year of competition on Saipan, the rest of this year's competing teams include: Ballers, Black Magic, BwiBwiis, Caropinos, Da Lani Kynez, Dublan Chiefs, Kich Fairo, 670's Finest and Watch & Learn.

That represents an increase of two teams compared to last season. "We're going to have to cap off the number of teams at 10," Feger said. "This is to ensure as smooth a season as possible by not being overloaded.

And, of course, we'll be having a team of teachers playing this year as well." Games will be played on one of the two rocball courts in the MHS campus during lunch hour. Games will consist of a must-play 15-point four sets, and the season will feature a four round-robin schedule.

ROCBALL
The game is a cross between volleyball and soccer that utilizes a volleyball net in the middle of the court and soccer-type goals on both ends. Points are earned the same way as volleyball -- except for side-outs wherein teams change service duty or lose a point -- as well as by scoring a goal against the opposing team.An ace is worth two points, a xunk is worth the option to add or subtract two points, a kee is worth two points and goals are good for three. Players are allowed to use their arms, legs and chest area to make contact or hit the ball. Kills directly off a serve are also allowed.

[Feger]

It?s an Anomaly:

Awarding a point to the receiving team for a bad serve is an anomaly. The only time a receiving team should be awarded a point off a bad serve, is off the first serve of any player rotating into the service position, when the server?s team hasn?t scored or earned points.

When a team is at zero and its server makes a bad serve, the receiving team will be awarded one point and the serve.

Otherwise, stay with the multiple point systems of side-out rules of play, where either team can score off the serve or during volley, and the service team has scoring and set/game advantage.

It is what restores the balance of challenge in this kind of team net sport.

[Feger]

Kich Fairo downs Ballers in WOR preseason


By Shan Seman
Reporter Saipan Tribune
Thursday, September 28, 2006

Kick Fairo held on in the second set to record a straight-sets victory over the Ballers as action in the 2006 World Organized Rocball Community League continued yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

After dominating the first set and the early stages of the second, Kich Fairo received stiff resistance, but still managed to close strong for a 35-19 victory to open the second round of preseason action.

Kich Fairo was in control for most parts of the opening set despite giving up goals to Ballers' Vince Teregeyo and Rainer Deleon Guerrero, and allowed a point for every two points they scored to grab favor and win, 18-9, with Zerolyn Fiden connecting on a xunk to end the set.

Kich Fairo seemed to be cruising in the second set, taking advantage of mishaps from the opposition to pull away. Dean Mathew connected on a goal, and J.R. Gechig and Fiden continued to serve well, pushing Kich Fairo to a 15-4 advantage to earn set point.

Determined to keep the match going, the Ballers unleashed a desperate and furious run. Matt Iguel connected on a kee and a kill, and the Ballers were assisted by several mishaps by Kich Fairo to go on a 6-0 run and pull to within five points, 10-15.

Kich Fairo was able to snap the run, but a bad first serve kept the Ballers' chances alive. The Ballers, however, could not take advantage, and Kich Fairo was able to close the game and the match with a 17-10 victory.

The match featured a total of four aces, a xunk, six kees, and three goals.

Mathew finished as the game's heavy hitter, connecting on two aces and a goal for seven points to lead Kich Fairo.

Deleon Guerreo and Teregeyo led the Ballers with five points apiece, both having a goal and a kee.

Second round action continues today at 11:30am with defending champion Mwaliyas and Caropinos facing off. The Dublan Chiefs and 670's Finest battle tomorrow to close the week.

The regular season is tentatively set to kick-off on the first week of November

[Feger]

Dublan Chiefs too fine for 670's Finest

By Shan Seman
Reporter Saipan Tribune

Monday, October 02, 2006

The Dublan Chiefs had everything go their way and easily got past 670's Finest as preseason action in the 2006 World Organized Rocball Community League continued Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Chiefs, comprised of seasoned veterans, had their way against the young high school students that make up the 670's Finest roster, and dominated for three sets to win, 45-10.

The Chiefs got off to a sizzling start and set the tone of things to come en route to cruising. The team crushed their opponents in the opening set, 16-4, then continued to show no mercy in the second set and held 670's Finest to just a point in a 15-1 victory.

At that point, the Dublan Chiefs were ahead by a mile, 31-5.

Still not satisfied, the Dublan Chiefs continued to push with all their might. In hopes of sending a message to other teams, the Chiefs remained focused and closed the match with a 14-5 victory.

There were a total of four aces, three xunks, and two kees in the bout, all being recording by members of the Dublan Chiefs.

Veteran Tarnes Kapwich led the Dublan Chiefs' balanced attack and finished as the game's heavy hitter with six points after connecting for two aces and a kee. Ybonn Kapwich, David Tisa, and Ichnis Kapwich also had four points apiece, with Ybonn hitting an ace and a xunk, and Tisa smashing a xunk and a kee. Ichnis had an ace and a xunk.

A total of 10 teams are currently sharpening their skills in preparation for the regular season, which WOR founder Jim Feger said may kick off in early November.

Other teams include Kich Fairo, Ballers, defending champion Mwaliyas, Watch & Learn, Caropinos, Bwi Bwii, Da Lani Kyned, and Black Magic.

[Feger]

Rocball Clinic:

The server and the goalie are like a baseball pitcher and a batter with a twist. In baseball, its the batters who score runs off of hits, in Rocball its the server who scores points off the hits. It is possible for a server to score one, two, or three points off the serve.

In baseball, the batter is standing in a batter's box over the strike zone.
In Rocball, the goalie is standing in the goalie's box in front of a goal. The goal is the server's strike zone.

The defensive team only has two hits off a served ball, and the goalie is the only person on a team that can set off a serve.

[Feger]

Rocball Clinic:

And, because the defennsive team only has two hits off a served ball, a defensive player at the net can spike down a served ball. Its called a Jam.

[Feger]

Kich Fairo leading in regular season opener


By Shan Seman
Reporter sAIPAN tRIBUNE
The Kich Fairo players seem to be on their way to recording the first win of the 2006 World Organized Rocball Community League as the team currently leads against the Ballers.

Kich Fairo won the first two sets after taking advantage of numerous mishaps by their opponents and led 34-13 yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

The Ballers had trouble from the start as the team struggled from the service area and recorded four mishaps of first serve, which in Rocball, results in the subtraction of a point from the team's score.

With the Ballers having problems putting the ball over the net, Kich Fairo simply blasted away as the team dominated to win the opening set. Dean Mathew connected for a goal to close the set, 17-2.

The Ballers put up a better fight in the second set. With the score 4-2 in favor of Kich Fairo, the Ballers again had trouble, resulting in Kich Fairo breaking away for a 10-2 advantage, with Zerolyn Fiden leading her team from the service line.

The Ballers fought back and after losing points again via bad first serves, got a big shot from Nate Mateo, who connected for what was going to be a kee, only Kich Fairo's goalie could not stop the ball from entering the goal, giving the Ballers three points, 4-10.

The Ballers managed to tie the game at 8-8 after Robert Naraja connected for a xunk and opted to subtract two points from Kich Fairo. The score was tied again at 10-10 before Kich Fairo hit turbo mode and sped away for a 17-11 victory.

Kich Fairo was leading, 5-0, in the third set when time expired. The game resumes today at 12:55pm, with Typhoon Saito of Kich Fairo serving.

Mathew currently leads Kich Fairo with seven points on a goal, an ace, and a kee, while Fiden and J.R. Hartman each have six points, with Fiden hitting three aces and Hartman smashing an ace and two kees.

Naraja leads the Ballers with four points on a xunk and a kee, while Mateo has three points from his goal.

Meanwhile, Rocball creator Jim Feger released the schedule for the regular season. Scheduled to face off on Monday are defending champion Mwaliyas and Caropinos. The Dublan Chiefs face 670's Finest on Wednesday, Oct. 25, while Black Magic and Da Lani Kyned battled on Oct. 30. The final game of round one will be on Nov. 1 between Watch & Learn and Bwibwiis.

[Feger]

Kich Fairo wins Rocball opener


By Shan Seman
Reporter: Saipan Tribune

There was not much the Ballers was able to throw up in the remaining two sets of the opening match in the 2006 World Organized Rocball Community League, resulting in Kich Fairo taking home an easy victory Friday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

After dominating the first two sets on Wednesday, the Kich Fairo players picked up where they left of and despite getting stronger opposition in the fourth set, still cruised to an easy 65-27 victory.

Kich Fairo was up 37-13 after two sets of play, and was leading, 5-0, in the third set when timed expired on Wednesday.

When action resumed, so did Kich Fairo's dominance as the team continued to roll and took advantage of more first serve mishaps by the Ballers to pull away for a 16-5 victory.

With that, the team headed into the final set ahead by a mile, 50-18.

With Rocball rules requiring a team to win the fourth set in order to close the match, the Ballers were still alive.

The Ballers put up a better attack, but soon found themselves at the brink of losing as Kich Fairo worked up a 14-8 lead.

The Ballers, however, caught a huge break as Harris Enriquez connected for a xunk and opted to subtract two points from Kich Fairo, bringing the deficit down to four points, 8-12.

That was as close as the Ballers got, though, as Kich Fairo recovered and closed the set with a 15-9 clincher.

Had the Ballers won the set, they would've forced o-kon-overtime in Rocball terms-even if they would still be trailing in the overall point tally.

Kich Fairo won the first set with ease, 17-2, and had a bit of trouble in the second set but still prevailed with a 17-11 victory.

Dean Mathew led Kich Fairo and finished as the game's heavy hitter with 11 points after hitting two aces, two kees, and a goal. J.R. Hart was also strong in support with eight points after smashing two aces and two kees.

Enriquez led the Ballers with six points courtesy of two aces and a xunk, while Robert Naraja had four points on a xunk and a kee.

Rocball action continues today as defending champion Mwaliyas takes on Caropinos at 11:30am. The Dublan Chiefs face 670's Finest on Wednesday, Oct. 25, while Black Magic and Da Lani Kyned battled on Oct. 30. The final game of round one will be on Nov. 1 between Watch & Learn and Bwibwiis.

[Feger]

Dublan Chiefs hammering 670's Finest

By Shan Seman
Reporter Saipan Tribune

The Dublan Chiefs made a solid debut in the regular season of the World Organized Rocball Community League yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium, and are hammering away against the 670's Finest.

With Ybonn Kapwich leading the way, the Dublan Chiefs dominated the first three sets as everything went their way. The team leads the match by 26 points, 48-22, heading into the final set of regulation. Time expired before the start of the fourth set, resulting in Rocball official Jim Feger scheduling the remainder of the match for today.

Despite trailing by a huge margin, though, the 670's Finest, still have a good shot at making a comeback. The Chiefs need to win the fourth set to close out the bout for a juice out win, but if the 670's Finest win the set, the match will go into o-kon, even if 670's crew is still trailing in the overall point tally.

If 670's Finest pulls out the win and forces o-kon, the team will be tasked with winning two sets in order to win the match. If in overtime, Dublan Chiefs would only need to win one set to close the match as Rocball rules indicate that the team leading after regulation only needs to take one of the two o-kon sets.

Overtime sets are won by the team to reach 10 points first or connect for a goal.

Kapwich is currently the game's heavy hitter with 16 points after dominating from the service line and smashing seven aces and a kee.

Joemar Tumaquip leads 670's Finest with seven points after bruising the ball with an ace, a kee, and a goal.

The match resumes today at 11:30am.

Rocball action continues on Monday, Oct. 30, with Black Magic and Da Lani Kyned battling. The final game of round one will be on Nov. 1 between Watch & Learn and Bwibwiis.

[Feger]

Dublan Chiefs lambastes 670's Finest


By Shan Seman
Reporter Saipan Tribune

It was a different day, but unfortunately for the 670's Finest, the same story.

After dominating the first three sets on Wednesday, Dublan Chiefs returned to action on Thursday and put a quick end to the team's bout against 670's Finest for a juice out victory yesterday as the World Organized Rocball Community League continued at the Marianas High School Green Court.

Dublan Chiefs controlled the entire fourth set, and took advantage of 670's shortage of players to kill the set, which lasted no more than 10 15 minutes. When all was said and done, the Chiefs went home with an easy 64-23 victory.

The 670's Finest had a better push at the start of the match, but still lost the first set, 16-9.

The second set was pretty much the same as both teams put up similar efforts, with the Chiefs increasing their lead to 15 points, 33-18, after winning the second set, 17-9.

Things began to fall apart for the Finest crew as the Chiefs hit turbo mode and began to speed away with a 15-4 annihilation in the third set.

At that point, the Chiefs led, 48-22, and action had to be halted as time expired.

The two teams returned yesterday, and this time, the Chiefs showed no mercy. Ichnis Kapwich put on a dominant service display and knocked in three aces, while 670's Finest struggled to keep pace as the Chiefs put an end to the match with a 16-1 victory.

Ybonn Kapwich led Dublan Chiefs and finished as the game's heavy hitter with 18 points after connecting for seven aces and two kees, while Ichnis J.R. Rudolph and Ichnis Kapwich added eight and six points, with Rudolph smashing two aces and two xunks, and Ichnis hitting three aces.

Joemar Tumaquip led 670's Finest with seven points on an ace, a kee, and a goal.

Rocball action continues on Monday, Oct. 30, with Black Magic and Da Lani Kyned squaring off at 11:30am. The final game of round one will be on Nov. 1 between Watch & Learn and Bwibwiis

[Feger]

Da Lani Kynez close to victory


By Shan Seman
Reporter
Members of Da Lani Kynez seem to be on their way to a sweet debut in the regular season of the World Organized Rocball Community League.

The team dominated the first two sets and lead, 46-49, after three sets of play against Black Magic yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Da Lani Kynez opened just the way they wanted to, taking the early lead with solid play in the opening set before closing with ease for a 17-9 win.

The team was able to increase its lead in the overall tally by again controlling the following set for a lopsided 17-5 win. At that point, Da Lani Kynez was ahead by 20 points, 34-14, in the overall point tally.

Determined to put up a better performance, members of Black Magic began to gain momentum as the team worked up their best push in the third set. John Nekaifes was able to get the ball past the goalkeeper for a goal, highlighting Black Magic's charge that brought them closer with a 15-12 victory.8)

With that, Black Magic cut the deficit to 17 points, 29-46, heading into the fourth set.

Da Lani Kynez was up 7-2 in the set when the game was halted as time expired. The bout resumes today at 11:30am.

Myron Laniyo currently leads Da Lani Kynez with 14 points courtesy of an ace, two xunks, and four kees, while older brother Alex has 12 points on four aces and two kees.

Elly Apilis leads Black Magic with six points on an ace and two kees.

Black Magic must win the set to stay alive and force overtime. In Rocball, if the team trailing heading into the fourth set wins the set, the game will go into overtime, even if the team still trails. If the team trailing wins the set and surpasses the opposition's point total, they win the match.

Da Lani Kynez must win to prevent an overtime session. If the teams go into overtime-o-kon in Rocball terms-then the team leading only needs to win a set, while the team trailing must win two sets. An o-kon set is won by the first team to reach 10 points or score a goal.

Rocball action continues tomorrow with Bwibwii and Watch & Learn making their regular season debuts

[Feger]

Da Lani Kynez secures win over Black Magic


By Shan Seman
Reporter: Saipan Tribune

Heading into yesterday's session against Black Magic, all Da Lani Kynez had to do was close out the fourth set to secure its first win of the World Organized Rocball Community League.

The team was up, 46-29, after three sets of play, and action in the fourth set resumed with Da Lani Kynez already ahead by five points, 7-2. Da Lani Kynez was able to increase its lead on a kill by Myron Laniyo and a strong serve by Alex Laniyo, but Black Magic was determined to force o-kon and came storming back-with the help of their opponents.

Da Lani Kynez went on relax mode and Black Magic wizards quickly took advantage, going on a big run and outscoring the opposition, 9-1, to knot the score at 11-11.

Black Magic was able to take the lead, 13-11, but Da Lani Kynez responded and leveled the score again at 13-13 on an ace by Melvin Seman. Black Magic managed to add to their total with another two-pointer, but that was the last of their threat as Da Lani Kynez closed the set and the match with an 18-15 clincher.

As reported earlier, Da Lani Kynez was able to grab control in the early stages of the bout after easily taking the first set, 17-9.

It got easier for Da Lani Kynez as the team rode its momentum into the second set and began to stretch their lead in the overall tally. Big hits by the crew plus errors by their opponents resulted in a 17-5 Da Lani Kynez win, pushing their lead to 20 points, 34-14.

Determined to put up a better performance, members of Black Magic began to gain momentum as the team worked up their best push in the third set. John Nekaifes was able to get the ball past the goalkeeper for a goal, highlighting Black Magic's charge that brought them closer with a 15-12 victory.

With that, Black Magic cut the deficit to 17 points, 29-46, heading into the fourth set.

Myron Laniyo8) finished as the game's heavy hitter with 22 points after smashing away for three aces, three xunks, and five kees, while Alex Laniyo scored 16 points on four aces, a xunk, and three kees.

Elly Apilis led Black Magic with 10 points on two aces and three kees, while J.J. Maliti supported with eight points courtesy of a xunk and three kees.

Rocball action resumes on Monday with Bwibwii and Watch & Learn making their regular season debuts. The first round of the regular season concludes after the two battle.

[Feger]

Watch & Learn whips Bwi Bwiis in Rocball

By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

WATCH & Learn swept all four sets in its game against the Bwi Bwiis to post a 61-25 juiced- out win in its debut in the 2006 World Organized Rocball high school tournament yesterday at the Marianas High School Gym.

Watch & Learn is composed of teachers and they showed the Bwi Bwiis a thing or two in playing the sport with their impressive debut.

The Tyce Mister-led Watch & Learn took the opening set, 15-7, and was more dominating in the second set limiting the Bwi Bwiis to just a point to nail a 15-point win, 16-1.

The Bwi Bwiis tried to recover in the third set, but fell short as Watch & Learn still prevailed, 15-8.
The Bwi Bwiis had their best game in the final canto, as they aimed for a win to send the game into overtime.

In rocball rules, a leading team can only win a match if it also prevails in the fourth set. If it loses, the game will go to o-kon or overtime with the leading squad needing to win only one set to end the match. The trailing teams must win two sets.

The Bwi Bwiis strengthened their chances to send the game into overtime when they led by seven in the early part of the fourth set, 9-2.

But Watch & Learn showed too much class, working its way out of trouble and sealing the win with a 15-9 triumph in the final set.

Mister paced Watch & Learn with 21 points on three aces, five kees, one xunx and a goal.

Darrel Moteisou was the heavy hitter for the Bwi Bwiis with 20 points on seven aces and three kees.
Fifteen aces, four xunxs, 12 kees and one goal were scored in the game.

Mister drilled the game?s lone goal in the second set. With Watch & Learn?s victory, it joined the Mwaliyas, Da Lani Kynez, Kich Fairo and the Dublan Chiefs in the win column.

The Watch & Learn-Bwi Bwiis tiff was the last game in the first round of the tournament. Second round matches are set for this week.

[Feger]

Mwaliyas win second straight


By Shan Seman
Reporter
Defending champion Mwaliyas won its second straight game yesterday after stuffing Black Magic to start the second round of the ongoing World Organized Rocball Community League at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Black Magic had several shiny moments in the bout, but the defending champs were just too much too handle. With things going their way, Mwaliyas was able to cruise to a 60-38 victory.

Mwaliyas was able to grab the early advantage connecting for seven two-point shots, including aces from Vanessa William, in the first set while keeping the opposition in check for a 15-8 win.

Mwaliyas then increase the lead after dominating the second set, and despite a mishap on first serve, was able to crush Black Magic, 17-6.

At that point, Mwaliyas was enjoying a comfortable18-point lead, 32-14.

Mwaliyas was looking to run away with the victory, but the Black Magic wizards had other ideas. The team swung momentum to their corner and took advantage of several bad hits by Mwaliyas to crawl closer. Black Magic took the set, 16-12, and cut the overall deficit to 14 points, 30-44, with one set remaining in regulation.

Despite trailing by a large margin, Black Magic still had a good shot at pulling off a comeback. In Rocball, if the team trailing after three sets wins the fourth set, the game will go into o-kon-overtime-even if the team still trails after regulation.

Knowing the rules well, Black Magic was gunning for overtime. Unfortunately for the wizards, Mwaliyas was not to be denied and managed to close strong with a 16-8 clincher.

8) Shane Yamada was the game's heavy hitter as he led Mwaliyas with 14 points after connecting for an ace and six kees. William also punched in 12 points with four aces and two kees, while Gary Phillips had eight points on two aces and two kees.

Elly Apilis led Black Magic with six points on an ace and two kees, while Albert Esefou added four points on an ace and a kee. Black Magic dropped to 0-2.

Second round action resumes on Monday with the Dublan Chiefs (1-0) and Ballers (0-1) battling, while the Bwibwiis and 670's Finest face off next Wednesday, with the winner earning win No. 1 after both lost in the first round.

Da Lani Kynez and Kich Fairo, both sporting 1-0 records, will then battle on Nov. 20, while Watch & Learn and Caropinos close the second round on Nov. 22.