Ochobu stays in pennant race

Ochobu completed what they started two days ago and managed to juice out against Caropinos, 68-33, to close the sixth round of the ongoing 2005 World Organized Rocball High School League.

Ochobu, however, had to fight back after giving the Caropinos new life yesterday at the Marianas High School Gymnasium. The still-winless Caropinos entered the game down by 23 points, 24-47, after three sets of play and had to win the fourth set to force overtime.

Determined to jump into the win column, the Caropinos played hard and matched their opponents before pushing the right buttons to force o-kon with a nail-biting 16-15 win. Highlighting the charge was Matthew Iguel, who pounded the ball for a goal.

The Caropinos still had a lot of work to do as they still trailed, 30-62, after regulation, which meant the team had to win two overtime sets while Ochobu only had to win one.

The Caropinos looked to make the best of their new life and kept the pressure on in the first o-kon set. The team, however, experienced a mishap on serve but was still tied, 3-3, with Ochobu when lighting struck.

Just when it seemed Caropinos was building momentum, Ochobu’s Anip Tisa put an end to their push with one blow as he unleashed a bullet that was good for a goal to end the match.

O-kon sets are won by the first team to reach 10 points or to score a goal.

As reported earlier, Ochobu edge the Caropinos 16-11 in the first set, then followed by dominating the second set for a 15-3 win to increase their lead to 31-14. Ochobu then won the third set with a 16-10 win.

Tisa finished as the game’s heavy hitter as he led Ochobu with 15 points after hitting two aces, a xunk, three kees, and a goal, while David Tisa supported well with an ace and four kees for 10 points.

Iguel led Caropinos with 13 points after going off for four aces, a kee, and a goal.

With the win, Ochobu (5-1) remains just a game behind defending champion Mwaliyas, which has won all its six games. The two are scheduled to meet in the final game of the regular season on Jan. 30, with the winner taking the pennant crown.

High school Rocball action continues today with Black Magic taking on B-n-S at 11:30pm. Both teams are tied in fourth place on the team standings with 3-3 records.