Saipan Tribune

Friday, May 24, 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Veterans sweep Jumpers in Rocball finals

The Veterans wrapped up the 2012-2013 Rocball Fall League early after sweeping the Jumpers in a best-of-three title series at the Marianas High School Gymnasium last week.

The champion squad is composed of Chenny Lizama, John Nekaifes, J.R. Gechig, and Wilton Laniyo and secured the championship after slipping past the Jumpers in overtime in Game 3, 53-30.

The Veterans, which won the first three sets of Game 3, 13-4, 12-2, and 13-11, had to play extended minutes in the deciding Game 3 after the Jumpers got a new lease of life, following a 13-8 triumph in the fourth set. After regulation, the Veterans were ahead, 46-30, but could not take the outright win and the championship, as Rocball rules state that the leading thing can only get the win if it also prevails in the fourth set.

With the Jumpers stealing the fourth set, the game went in o-kon (overtime) where the Veterans completely blew out the former, cruising to the 7-0 victory. Lizama led the Jumpers in overtime, scoring an ace and never losing a serve. She and Gechig combined for 20 points off four aces, one xunk, and five kees and shared the heavy hitter honors.

Lizama was also the heavy hitter in the Veterans' Game 2 win, 55-33. She logged 14 points after delivering seven aces. Lizama and company swept all four sets in Game 2 for a juiced-out win and a victory away from clinching the short series. The Veterans topped the closely fought first set, 15-12, before routing the Jumpers in the second, 13-3. The finalists had tough battles in the last two sets with the Veterans still prevailing, 13-9, 14-9, to complete the Game 2 sweep.

The Veterans also shut out the Jumpers in the series opener. The first two sets in Game 1 were tight with the Veterans escaping with the 12-9, 13-8 wins. The last two sets were cruise control for the Veterans, 14-6, 12-3. Gechig went on to get the heavy hitter award with his 16 points off two aces and six kees.

The Veterans advanced to the finals after sweeping the Teachers in a best-of-three semis series, while the Jumpers ousted Smack Dat in the other Final Four pairing in similar fashion.

Five other squads joined this season's Rocball league. The list includes Roc It, Give-A-Hoot, Aim Low, Just-Do-It, and Alpha Q.