It’s Mwaliyas vs SKN in WOR high school finals

The stage is all set for the best-of-five championship series in the World Organized Rocball High School League after Mwaliyas eliminated a determined Ochobu squad in playoffs action Tuesday afternoon at the Marianas High School Gymnasium.

With the finals at stake, both squads put up the best fight they could, hustling for every loose ball and digging like there was no tomorrow, while putting their power on every kill and kee attempt in a match that needed an extra set to determine the winner.

Mwaliyas, however, proved to be the better team for the day, performing best in pressure-pack situations in o-kon to advance with a 56-44 win.

The Mwaliyas players opened the match the way they wanted to, dominating the first set behind an ace by Pedro Iguel and a goal by Darrel Roligat for a 13-7 win.

Ichnis Kapwich also netted a goal for Ochobu, his second in two days.

Determined not to let the match slip out of their hands, Ochobu retaliated with better numbers in the second set. Despite starting off their charge on the wrong foot, courtesy of a mishap from the service area and allowing a xunk, Ochobu managed to fight back and take the set, 11-10, trailing by just five points, 18-23, in the overall tally.

Mwaliyas’ Donald Tagabuel highlighted his team’s effort with a goal.

The neck-and-neck battle carried over to the third set as both teams continued to hammer the ball and match each other point for point. Mwaliyas, however, pushed the right buttons in the dying moments to squeezed by with a 13-11 win and increase their overall lead to seven points, 36-29.

With their backs against the wall and their season on the line, Ochobu pulled out every trick they had in their bag in the final set of regulation and kept their hopes alive with a 12-9 win. Although they still trailed 41-45 in the overall score, winning the set enabled them to force overtime—the team leading after three sets must win the fourth to end the match in Rocball.

Unfortunately, Ochobu’s magical ride ended, as Mwaliyas took no chances and fired away to prevent a second overtime set. After four sets of intense battles, Mwaliyas blew away the opposition and earned the golden ticket to the finals with an 11-3 win.

Roligat led Mwaliyas and finished as the game’s heavy hitter with 11 points on an ace, a xunk, two kees, and a goal, while Iguel supported him with eight points on an ace, two xunks, and a kee.

Kapwich led Ochobu with seven points on a goal and two aces.

The best-of-five championship series kicks off Monday at 12:30pm at the MHS Gym.

For more information on Rocball, contact sport creator Jim Feger at 664-3810.