Kiss My Ace wins Fall Fest women’s title

Kiss My Ace dimmed the Lady Starz’s shine and bid them adieu as they won the women’s division title of the Inaugural 4 Starz Fall Fest Volleyball Tournament 2024 last Saturday at the Agape Gymnasium.

Kiss My Ace won it all in two sets, 25-13, 25-20.

The championship team, which consisted of Alisa Baquilles, Cecile Guevarra, Alyssa Velasco, Esco Ulloa, Julie Harrison, Leirha Manalo, Fatima Monterubio, Karisse Anne Ong, Beatrice Fabre, Reilly Tyler, Kiana Hocog, and Nina Manglona, brought the Lady Starz to their knees in the first set.

The Lady Starz, which included Aiko Rasiang, Nichiko Rasiang, Veralei Hapdei, Vinalei Hapdei, Katriel Saures, Jen Sav, Jsmin John, Azzy Fatialofa, and Mei Rengiil, could not seem to find their groove in the first set as it was over as quickly as it started.

But in the second set they regrouped and made a bid for a tie-breaking third set. It was a close match, 11-9, in favor of 4 Starz, but Kiss My Ace’s hard-hitting Monterubio and Baquilles went to work and put a stop to it.

Errors on the Lady Starz’s side turned things around for Kiss My Ace, and they led once again, 17-15. Finally, they took it all the way home as they made consecutive points to secure the title, 25-20.

Baquilles, who was the captain of Kiss My Ace, said of the tournament, “it was very challenging because we had a small tournament in the summer, and they defeated us.” With how she felt about defeating them in the finals this time around, she said, “It feels good. There was a little bit of change for our team but it still worked out well.”

She added, “The teamwork was great. We had a lot of communication and adjustment because their team really stepped up too. It was challenging, but it was a good championship.”

Their strategy in the finals, she said, was, “initially in the beginning, we tried to do how you would professionally position yourself at the back, which is the V shaped defense. But it didn’t work out, so we just went to our original plan, which is the W shape and it worked out well.”

She also said one of their assets this time around compared to the last tournament is that they didn’t have one of their strong regular players, Monterubio. “She was in and out of the island due to the military,” said Baquilles.

She then said of the tournament, “The 4 Starz were very organized. I know there were a lot of challenges, especially with the timing, because there were a lot of men’s teams. But we’re very thankful, especially for all the sponsors, and of course, 4 Starz for organizing this. I’m just thankful for everyone, especially the volleyball community, and everyone who joined. It’s good to see all volleyball lovers coming here and just experiencing this tournament.”

She added, “We really hope that the volleyball community will expand for the women and have more teams next time.”

4 Starz then thanked their family and friends, the Open Gym kids, and their sponsors Agape Christian School, Speaker Edmund Villagomez, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang, Alex and Neil, Yohei Iwashita and Anthony Yoshikawa, The Angry Penne, Inas Kitchen, Brabu Pharmacy, Pacific Islands Club, Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, The Athlete’s Foot, McDonald’s of Saipan, Coca Cola, Hybrid, 3HIGH-RES, Mar Pac Distributors, Gold’s Gym, Latte Built Gym, and National Office Supply, and all the volunteers that helped referee, be a line judge, and assist in any way possible.

4 Starz is a volleyball group that was formed last year, with an homage to its president Nak Nakashima’s roots—the Federated States of Micronesia and Japan—hence the four stars within the sun of Japan’s flag in their logo. The four stars represent the four FSM states, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Yap.