Volleyball / Soccer

[Feger]

Ochobu leads Lagooners in Game 1 of Rocball semis series

By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

OCHOBU moved a set away from winning Game 1 of its best-of-three semifinal series against Lagooners in the 2005 World Organized Rocball High School League yesterday at the Marianas High School Gym.

Ochobu, which finished the regular season in second place behind pennant champions the Mwaliyas, took the first three sets and tries to close out the match with another win today.

Ochobu dominated the first set as it won by 15, limiting the Lagooners to just a point, 16-1.

The Lagooners played better in the second set with Danny Daniel drilling the lone goal in the game, but still Ochobu prevailed, 17-8.

The third set was an even closer match with the Lagooners sticking like a leech to Ochobu. But again Ochobu had the last laugh escaping with a 15-10 victory.

The fourth set was not played yesterday as students needed to return to classes. The game resumes today.

If Ochobu wins, it will claim a juiced out victory and move a win away from taking the first finals berth.

The Lagooners need to prevail in the fourth set to send the game into overtime. In the extra set, the Lagooners must win in two sets to claim the match, while Ochobu needs only one set or a goal after the first set to end the game.

The winner of the Ochobo Lagooners playoff will meet the winner of the Mwaliyas Black Magic tiff in the best-of-three championship series.

The Mwaliyas and Black Magic begin their semis series after the Ochobu Lagooners match.

Meanwhile, Rocball creator Jim Feger is upbeat about the interest shown by the Rocball Federation in India on the development of the sport on Saipan.

In his latest email to Feger, Rocball Federation in India
secretary general Dr. M. KR. Agarwal said he is looking forward to playing a couple of exhibition games against Rocball teams on the island.

?Mr. Agarwal is inquiring about how he can bring his team to Saipan. I just hope they will come during the summer so we can focus on the games and be good hosts to them,? Feger said.

?They also want to play against other off-island teams. But that?s a different story. Right now, what we can offer them is our local teams,? Feger added.

[Feger]

Ochobu grabs upperhand in WOR semis

By Shan Seman
Reporter

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Ochobu was not satisfied with its dominantion of the first three sets against Lagooners in the semifinals of the 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League and showed it yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Ochobu headed into the final set ahead by a commanding 30-point lead, 48-18, and wasted no time in claiming the first game of the best-of-three series, 63-26.

J.R. Rudolph connected for an ace and a kee and Benaia Nika pounded in a goal to spearhead Ochobu?s run that resulted in a 15-7 clincher.

The Lagooners put up a good fight before the final score was recorded, as Denry Fiden, Graceful Fiden, and Gary Phillip knocked in a kee apiece, but their efforts were far from enough to dig their team out of their hole.

Awes Kawes led Ochobu?s balanced attack and was the game?s heavy hitter with eight points on three aces and a kee, while David Tisa, Tarnes Kapwich, and Ichnis Kapwich each had six points.

The Lagooners have something to be happy about, though, as they lead Game 2 of the series, 29-24.

The two teams immediately began play in the match and this time around, the Lagooners put up a stronger resistance, losing the first set by only two points, 13-15.

Determined to level the match, the Lagooners finally showed some life and played like the team that lost only twice in the regular season by going on a 6-1 run to start the second set.

Ochobu was able to respond and tied the game on a goal and an ace by Ichnis Kapwich, 6-6, but an ace by Graceful Fiden brought the Lagooners back on top, 8-6.

From there, the Lagooners were able to put on a 5-1 run for a 13-7 lead as Typhoon Saito scored on a dink, Gary Phillip smacked in a kill, and Graceful Fiden hammered a kee.

Ochobu was able to score one more point before Saito closed the set with a kee, 16-8.

The match resumes today at 11:30am.

The other half of the semifinals features defending champion and undefeated Mwaliyas taking on No. 4 seed Black Magic. The winners of the two series will battle for all the marbles in a best-of-five championship series

[Feger]

Lagooners level series to stay alive

By Shan Seman
Reporter

Friday, February 24, 2006

The Lagooners were able to bounce right back from their disappointing loss to Ochobu and kept their 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League title hopes alive with a victory in o-kon yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

As reported earlier, the Lagooners already had a 29-24 lead after two sets of play. Ochobu won the opener 15-13, and the Lagooners finally took a set in the series by winning set two, 16-9.

When action resumed yesterday, the Lagooners had a clear advantage as only four members of Ochobu suited up. With one less player covering the court, Ochobu was not able to keep up with the Lagooners, who showed no mercy and scored three goals to win, 18-13. Danny Daniel was first to hit the ball past the goalie, Denry Fiden followed, and Tito Francisco closed the set with a goal.

With the win, the Lagooners headed into the final set ahead by 10 points, 47-37. Ochobu, however, still had a chance. All the team needed to do was win the fourth set, force o-kon, and take two sets in overtime.

That didn't seem possible early in the set as the Lagooners dominated and went on a 14-4 run to hit match point.

Ochobu refused to throw in the towel and began to surge back. Little by little, Ochobu managed to close in. The Lagooners also committed costly errors and soon, found themselves in trouble as Ochobu rallied from the 10-point deficit to tie the game at 14-14. Ochobu then forced o-kon when
Ichnis Kapwich connected for his second goal of the match, 17-14.

The Lagooners won the coin toss, were first to serve, and opened a 2-0 lead. Ochobu was able to respond and went up 5-2 on a kee by Tarnes Kapwich, a kill by J.R. Rudolph, and a kill by Benaia Nika, but the Lagooners put up a quick response as Typhoon Saito connected for a kill and Sheila Francisco pounded in a kee to swing favor back to their corner, 6-5.

The game was tied twice before a net violation by Ochobu kicked off the Lagooners' final charge. Up 9-7, Tito Francisco smacked a kee to clinch the win.

Graceful Fiden and Ichnis Kapwich each had 12 points to claim heavy hitter status, with Fiden leading the Lagooners with an ace, a xunk, and four kees and Kapwich pacing Ochobu with three aces and two goals.

The do-or-die third game of the series will be played on March 1. Immediately after a victor is crowned, defending champion and undefeated Mwaliyas will take on Black Magic in the other half of the semifinals.8)

[Feger]

Do-or-die in HS Rocball semis today

By Shan Seman
Reporter

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

The season will be on the line in today's semifinals of the 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League as Ochobu and Lagooners will battle to determine who will advance to the finals and who will be eliminated from further competition.

The two teams split the first two matches of the three-game series and are scheduled to bang heads for a decisive third match today at 11:30am at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Ochobu dominated the first game and cruised to an easy victory, manhandling their opponents for a 63-26 victory.

The Lagooners lost the first set of the second bout but were able to gain control and won the second and third sets before evening the series with an 11-7 win in o-kon.

Whoever wins the bout will play either defending champion and undefeated Mwaliyas or No. 4 seed Black Magic, who will begin their best-of-three series on Monday.

Rocball creator Jim Feger had earlier said that the two teams advancing to the finals will battle in the best-of-five series.

[Feger]

Lagooners, Ochobu locked in tight battle for finals spot

By Shan Seman
Reporter

Thursday, March 02, 2006

The Lagooners and Ochobu are both hungry for an appearance in the finals, and the two teams showed it during Game 3 of their 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League semifinals series yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Only two sets were played as both teams engaged in long rallies. The Lagooners currently lead the bout by just a point, 31-30, as the teams split the two sets.

Both teams were neck and neck from the start, with Danny Daniel pulling the right strings for the Lagooners and Ochobu putting up a balanced attack.

Ichnis Kapwich and Kawes Awes were able to connect on xunks during the first set and Ochobu decided to subtract points from the Lagooners? corner, which proved to be the right thing to do as Ochobu was able to edge them with a 15-14 victory.

The Lagooners had two chances to take the set as they held service twice at set point, but the team was denied by the determined Ochobu cast, who on their third set-point try, were successful for the win.

The Lagooners came up stronger in the second set and took an 8-2 lead, but Ochobu refused to give up and fought back to tie the set with six unanswered points, 8-8.

The Lagooners were able to stop the run on a kee by Sheila Francisco, 10-8, and increased their lead when Graceful Fiden knocked in a goal, 13-8. Fiden scored a couple of times later, but Ochobu did not go out without a fight and put up a strong rally. Both teams were again at set point, but this time around, the Lagooners were able to pull through for an 18-16 win.

The third and fourth sets are scheduled to begin at 11:30am today. If o-kon is needed, the team leading going into overtime will only have to win one set, while the team trailing must win two sets.

The team that wins will face either defending champion Mwaliyas or Black Magic, who will begin their best-of-three semifinals series on Monday.

[Feger]

Ochobu beats Lagooners, enter finals

By Shan Seman
Reporter

Friday, March 03, 2006

One of the two finals slot has already been filled in the 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League, as Ochobu turned a tightly fought bout into an easy victory over the Lagooners yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Heading into the third set down by a point, 30-31, the Ochobu cast stunned their opponents with unmatched firepower and outscored the Lagooners, 36-8, in the final two sets of regulation to juice out, 66-39, and win the best-of-three semifinals series.

After losing Game 2 and getting a run for their money in the first two sets of Game 3, Ochobu came out firing in the third set and quickly took the driver seat.

Ignited by a goal with Ichnis Kapwich, Ochobu dominated the third set. While Ochobu was having its way, the Lagooners hit a brick wall and struggled to get points on the board. With that, Ochobu erased their deficit in the overall points tally courtesy of a walk-in-the-park 18-3 victory.

The win gave Ochobu the upper hand as they headed into the fourth set ahead by 14 points, 48-34.

The Lagooners still had a shot at keeping their hopes alive. All they needed to do was win the fourth set, force o-kon, then win the two overtime sets.

That was not to be for the Lagooners, though, as Ochobu duplicated its third-set performance with another outstanding production in the fourth to juice out. The team scored nine straight points before the Lagooners countered with a kee by Tito Francisco, 3-9.

Ochobu was still able to keep their hot streak going, and a xunk by Anip Tisa dropped the Lagooners? score from 4 to 2. It was cruise control from there as Kapwich pounded the ball with a fury on match point for a game-winning kee, 18-5.

As reported earlier, both teams were neck and neck from the start, with Daniel pulling the right strings for the Lagooners and Ochobu putting up a balanced attack. Kapwich and Kawes Awes were able to connect on xunks during the first set and Ochobu decided to subtract points from the Lagooners? corner, which enabled the team to inch by with a 15-14 victory.

The Lagooners came up stronger in the second set and took an 8-2 lead, but Ochobu refused to give up and fought back to tie the set with six unanswered points, 8-8. A kee by Sheila Francisco stopped the run, 10-8, and the Lagooners increased their lead when Graceful Fiden knocked in a goal, 13-8. Fiden scored a couple times later and the Lagooners were able to pull through for an 18-16 win.

Danny Daniel of the Lagooners and Kapwich were the game?s heavy hitter with 11 points apiece. Daniel had three aces, a kee, and a goal, but all those came in the first two sets, while Kapwich had an ace, a xunk, two kees, and a goal. David Tisa also 10 for Ochobu as he had an ace and four kees.8)

With the win, Ochobu now awaits the winner of the Mwaliyas-Black Magic semifinals series, which will begin on Monday.

The two teams in the finals will battle in a best-of-five championship series.

[DaiSuki]

I wish we had Rocball in the UK

[Feger]

Black Magic stuns Mwaliyas

By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff


THE Black Magic stunned the defending champion Mwaliyas in their semis series in 2005 World Organized Rocball High School League claiming Game 1 with a 62-56 juiced-out victory yesterday at the Marianas High School Gym.

The Mwaliyas are the favorites in the best-of-three semis series having defeated the Black Magic in the regular season and grabbing the pennant championship with a perfect 9-0 slate.

But the Black Magic weaved enough tricks to pull off an upset in the opening game and move a win away from taking the second finals berth.
The Black Magic, which entered the Final Four via a backdoor outclassing Brothers and Sisters in the playoff, started strong with a 16-9 victory in the first set last

The Mwaliyas regained their bearings in the second set winning by five, 16-11, to tie the match at one set apiece.

But the Black Magic grabbed the lead back in the third set, 34-31, after posting a 7-6 advantage in the middle part of the third set. Half of the match was played last Monday and the remaining half was played yesterday. The game was interrupted as students needed to return to classes.

The game resumed with the Mwaliyas? Darrel Roligat serving. The third set was a neck-and-neck battle with the Black Magic escaping with a two-point win, 17-15.

After three sets, the Black Magic were ahead by only four, 44-40, but the pressure was on the Mwaliyas as they needed to win the fourth set to send the game into overtime.

The Mwaliyas? chances of extending the game in o-kon looked good in the fourth set as they took a 15-11 lead. But the defending champions? fortunes changed when they lost the serve and the Black Magic regained possession and outscored the Mwaliyas in the closing phase of the game, 7-1.

Dior Jones of the Black Magic was Game 1?s heavy hitter with 12 points on five kees and an ace.

Pedro Iguel scored 10 markers for the Mwaliyas, which must win in Game 2 today to force a deciding Game 3. Iguel had four kees and an ace.
No goal and xunx were nailed in the opening game.

The two teams collected 13 aces and 19 kees.

The winner of the Mwaliyas-Black Magic semis showdown will move to the finals against Ochobu, which booked the first finals ticket after beating the Lagooners in their own best-of-three semis series, 2-1

[Feger]

Black Magic strengthens bid for Rocball finals berth

By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Black Magic boosted its chances of sweeping the semis series of the 2005 World Organized Rocball High School League against the Mwaliyas as it was leading in Game 2 yesterday at the Marianas High School Gym.

After two sets, the Black Magic was up by two, 29-27. Game 2 was interrupted as students needed to return to classes. The remaining half of the match will be played today.

The Mwaliyas prevailed in the closely fought first set winning by two 15-13.
But the defending and pennant champions lost the lead despite getting a goal from Pedro Iguel, as the Black Magic pulled off a 16-12 victory tying the match at a set apiece.

If the Black Magic wins in Game 2, it will claim the second finals ticket and challenge Ochobu for the title in a best-of-three championship series.

The Black Magic moved a win away from the finals after stunning the Mwaliyas in Game 1 posting a 62-56 juiced-out win last Monday.
Dior Jones starred in the Black Magic?s opening win and continues to lead his team in Game 2.

Jones has collected six points on four kees and an ace.

Iguel was leading the Mwaliyas, who must win Game 2 to extend the series in to a deciding Game 3, with nine points. He has scored a goal and three kees.

Shane Yamada was also trying to keep the Mwaliyas? chances for a finals berth alive as he has contributed eight points to the team?s cause. Yamada has collected three aces and one kee.

So far, five aces, 10 kees and a goal have been scored in Game 2.

[Feger]

Defending champion Mwaliyas still alive

By Shan Seman
Reporter

Friday, March 10, 2006

Defending champion Mwaliyas was not ready to give the title away and kept their hopes of repeating as champions alive by winning Game 2 of their best-of-three semifinals series against Black Magic in the 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League.

Entering the third set yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium trailing by two points, 27-29, Mwaliyas dominated despite playing with only four players and was able to turn things around for a 59-46 victory.8)

Mwaliyas controlled the start of the third set and held off a rally by Black Magic to win, 17-13. The wizards of magic were able to pull close on a goal by Julius Saito, but were not able to get over the hill and as a result, headed into the final set of regulation trailing, 42-44.

Despite trailing, Black Magic still had a chance of winning the bout in regulation as they trailed by only two points. All the team needed to do was win the set by at least three points.

Black Magic was on track at the start, as the team opened with a 4-0 run, but fell apart as veteran and reigning most valuable player Pedro Iguel made his presence felt. His serve was hard to handle and enabled Mwaliyas to steam back and close the bout with a 14-0 run. 8)

With Iguel's serve working well, Mwaliyas forced Game 3 with a 15-4 victory.

As reported earlier, Mwaliyas was able to take a tightly fought first set Wednesday, 15-13, and Balck Magic responded with a 16-12 victory in the second set, setting the stage for yesterday's action.

Iguel finished as the game's heavy hitter as he led Mwaliyas with 23 points after pounding away for an ace, nine kees, and a goal. Shane Yamada also had a strong outing with 12 points on three aces and three kees.

Dior Jones led Black Magic with 12 points on an ace and five kees.

Game 3 begins on Monday at 11:30am. The winner of the bout will advance to play Ochobu in a best-of-five championship series.

[spagmasterswift]

I've been backing Mwaliyas since the get go, they got to come through for me Will be checking for the result Tuesday Morning - Nice work Feger, its exciting stuff

I know hard hitting Darrel Roligat, MVP Pedro Iguel and Jam Master Shane Yamada are all doing their thing to keep our hopes alive, but who are the other players in the team? How many players on each team again?

Oh and this is the best thread on the whole internet

[Feger]

Pedro?s Smoke & The Law of Side-Out.

The serve is the catalyst to this kind of team net sport. It?s the responsibility of the team that earned the right to serve, to initiate the sport?s competitive features. And, in order to maintain a balance of challenges, a system of rules that establishes equal but different competitive roles for the service and receiving team must be established.

There is nothing complicated about developing a balance of challenges in this kind of team net sport with offensive and defensive scoring. The service team has scoring advantage with set and volley, and game closure.

How is a game played in the spirit of side-out? The following are set scores played in a system developed by adapting volleyball?s side-out play with offensive and defensive scoring:

Set One:
Mwaliyas?1-2-1-2-4-5-7-8-9-10-12-14-15
Black Magic?2-4-6-7-6-7-8-9-10-12-13-14-13

In set one, Black Magic jumped out to an early lead and Mwaliyas had a problem making good on first serves*. When Black Magic had trouble off first serve, not serving the ball over the net or served the ball out of bounds, Mwaliyas was able to catch-up at game point seven. Teams played even ball from points seven through twelve. Black Magic pulled ahead on court-points 13 to 12. Mwaliyas jumped up to set point from 12 to 14 off a two-point backcourt play. Mwaliyas served for set point, but Black Magic scored off Mwaliya?s set point serve to tie the set at 14 points each. Teams were at 14 to 14 with Black Magic serving for set point. (Two point margins for set wins are not a rule of play for offensive and defensive scoring) Black Magic?s first serve on set point was bad, and they lost a point, which put them off set point to 13. Mwaliyas served the ball over the net into Black Magic?s court area of play. Black Magic, in two hits, returned the ball back over the net and Mwaliyas scored the set winning point.

The service team has scoring advantage. In a balanced competitive offensive and defensive team net sport, where the serve is the catalyst to the game?s competitive features, and in the spirit of the side-out scoring system, the receiving team only has two hits off a serve to return the ball over the net. Both teams were at set point with this rule of differentiation. Black Magic choked and Mwaliyas converted.

Set Two:
Black Magic?1-2-3-5-7-9-10-11-12-13-14-16
Mwaliyas? 2-1-3-6-7-8-7-6-8-10-11-12

In set two, Black Magic played methodically and well disciplined. They converted first serves, offensively and defensively scored one and two point plays up to set point, and then slammed in a backcourt two point play to accentuate their dominance. In set two, Mwaliyas played erratically. They got off to a good start, suffered loss points from bad serves, scored a three point play, ran into trouble off the serve again, and were not able to break up Black Magics systematic methods of attack and recover. And, at the end of set two, Black Magic was leading in overall points, 29 to 27.

Set Three:
Mwaliyas?1-3-4-6-8-9-11-12-14-15-17
Black Magic?1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10-13

In set three, both teams played well discipline ball. Neither team suffered from any loss of points. Mwaliyas scored big on two point aces and backcourt plays. Mwaliyas had Black Magic down 14 to 3 and at set point, when Black Magic dug in their heels and rallied with a series of one and two point plays to 10 and then scored big with a three point goal that put the set at 13 to 14 with Black Magic serving. Black Magic served and Mwaliyas converted the defensive two hit serve rule into a court point. That put the set at 15 to 13 in favor of Mwaliyas. Mwaliyas then served the ball over the net, Black Magic returned the ball over the net in two hits off the serve, and Mwaliyas scored with a two-point back court play. And, at the end of set three, Mwaliyas had regained the lead in overall points 44 to 42.

Set Four:
Mwaliyas: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10-12-14-15
Black Magic?2-4

In set four, Black Magic served first. Black Magic scored a two point ace on first serve and two points off a backcourt play on the second serve. On the third and final serve for Black Magic in the fourth set, Mwaliyas scored a court point and won the serve. The first and only person to serve for Mwaliyas in the fourth set was Pedro Iguel. Pedro started serving and Mwaliyas started scoring, one point at a time, Mwaliyas was in trouble a couple of times during the set, but managed to win the long rallies. On at least two occasions, Mwaliyas took advantage of the five hit service team rule and reloaded after the their three hit plays were busted up, by a bad pass and ball spiked into the net. Pedro never lost the serve. As hard as Black magic tried, they weren?t able to break Pedro?s serve, score off Mwaliyas, or rally enough to stop Mwaliyas in set four.

The game ended with Mwaliyas juicing-out Black Magic in four sets 59 to 46.

*First serves: When a team earns the advantage of service, the first serve of any player in the servers position to start off a set, or the first serve of a player rotating into the server?s position, must be good, or that team loses a point. If the serve to start off a set is bad and neither team has points scored, then the service team?s opponents will be awarded one point, and the serve. Only the first serve is subject to this rule. If any subsequent serves are bad, the service team loses the serve and scoring advantage. It?s the law of side-out

[Feger]

Mwaliyas boost chances for return trip to Rocball finals

By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE defending champion Mwaliyas are a set away from earning a return trip to the finals of the 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League as they were leading in Game 3 of their semis series against the Black Magic.

The deciding Game 3 was played yesterday at the MHS Gym with the Mwaliyas taking two of the first three sets en route to a 46-31 advantage.
The Black Magic claimed the first set, 16-12, with Dean Matthew and John J. Mality drilling one goal apiece.

But the Mwaliyas bounced back in the second set as Darrel Roligat, Shane Yamada and Quincy Johnson also drilled one goal each to power their team to a 19-14 victory.

Pedro Iguel started the third set with a goal and after the Mwaliyas took a 5-2 lead, drilled another goal to lift the defending champions to a 15-1 triumph.
The match was interrupted as students had to return to classes. The game resumes today with the Black Magic serving.

The Mwaliyas only need to win the fourth set to claim the second finals berth and meet Ochobu in the best-of-three championship series.

If the defending champions lose, but still have the lead at the end of the regulation, the game will go into overtime with the Mwaliyas needing to win only one set or nail a goal after the first set. The Black Magic must prevail in two sets in o-kon to complete an upset over the defending champions.

Game 3 was a goal contest and so far the Mwaliyas are winning with five goals compared to the Black Magic?s three.

Iguel was leading the Mwaliyas with 12 points on two goals, a xunx, a kee and a goal. Roligat has added nine markers on three kees and a goal.

Dior Jones and Frank Suda have collected six markers apiece. Jones has nailed three kees, while Suda has scored two aces and a kee.

So far, three aces, one xunx, 10 kees and eight goals have been scored in Game 3.8)

The Black Magic-Mwaliyas semis series went to the deciding Game 3 after they split the first two games.

[Feger]

Mwaliyas to defend World Organized Rocball title against Ochobu

By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

THE Black Magic ran out of tricks in overtime as the Mwaliyas pulled off a 62-53 win in the deciding Game 3 of the 2005 World Organized Rocball High School League semis series yesterday at the Marianas High School Gym.


With the victory, the defending champions caught the last bus to the finals and will meet Ochobu in the best-of-three championship series, which will begin on March 21.


The winner-take-all Game 3 was extended to o-kon as the Black Magic found ways to prevent the Mwaliyas from nailing a juiced-out win with a 17-2 victory in the fourth set.


After four sets, the game ended in a deadlock, 48-all and the Mwaliyas and the Black Magic were back to square one.


Neither team was clearly in control of the extra set at the start of the
o-kon until Darrel Roligat began hitting aces to lead the Mwaliyas? breakaway.

The Mwaliyas were up by just a point, 4-3, when Roligat scored three straight aces to give the defending champions a 10-3 advantage.

The Mwaliyas hung on to the lead and Pedro Iguel ended the match with a kee giving the defending champions a 13-5 victory in the extra set.
Only the fourth set and the extra set were played yesterday. The first three sets were played last Monday with the Mwaliyas winning 2-of-3.

The Black Magic started strong in Game 3 with a 16-12 victory in the opening set. The Mwaliyas recovered in the second set with a 19-14 triumph to steal the lead, 31-30.

The defending champions, who also won the pennant title after sweeping the regular season with a 7-0 record, posted back-to-back set wins prevailing in the third set, 15-1, to move a win away from earning a return trip to the finals.

The match was interrupted as students needed to return to class.
Action resumed yesterday, but the Mwaliyas failed to finish the job in regulation, losing the fourth set by a big margin.

The Black Magic seemed to weave all its tricks in the fourth set and forgot to reserve some for overtime giving the Mwaliyas the chance to defend their title.

The Black Magic had the chance to pull an upset in the semis series after winning Game 1, 62-56. But it failed to sustain its momentum in Game 2, which the Mwaliyas won, 59-46 to force the do-or-die Game 3.

Darrel Roligat was Game 3?s heavy hitter with 17 points on three aces, four kees and a goal. Iguel added 12 points on two goals, one ace, one xunx and one kee.

Dior Jones led the Black Magic with 10 points on four kees and an ace.

[Feger]

Ochobu leads Game 1 of HS Rocball finals

By Shan Seman
Reporter

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

The 2006 World Organized Rocball High School League finals kicked off earlier than expected as Ochobu and defending champion Mwaliyas began their best-of-five championship series yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Determined in dethroning Mwaliyas, the Ochobu smackers entered with their game faces on and pounded away to take a 31-20 lead after two sets of play.

Ramsey Sino was a key factor in Ochobu's early charge, and highlighted a strong first set push by his team with a goal late in the action before Ochobu closed the set with a 15-10 victory.

Mwaliyas tried to move closer in the overall points tally as Pedro Iguel connected for a goal and Shane Yamda and Quincy Johnson added kees, but their effort came to no avail as Sino and company were able to take the set, 16-10, and increase their lead.

The bout continues today beginning at 11:30am, with Game 2 scheduled to begin immediately after.

Sino currently leads all players with 11 points after bruising the ball for an ace, three kees, and a goal, while Ichnis Kapwich and Anip Tisa each have two points. 8)


Yamada leads Mwaliyas with six points on three kees, while Iguel has five points courtesy of a goal and a kee.

Mwaliyas earned their finals slot after downing No. 4 Black Magic last week, while Ochobu downed Lagooners two weeks ago