No Fear, YoYo’s win indoor volley titles

No Fear and YoYo’s took on separate routes to win the 2008 Indoor Volleyball Winter League titles in Monday night’s finals held at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The championship matches were the resumption of their games that were played last Thursday, March 27, but were canceled due to a scheduled power outage.

No Fear, which enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage after going undefeated in the double-elimination playoff round, was pushed to the limit by Fanians losing the first game before finally disposing their opponents in the rubber in another three grueling sets.

Fanians overcame an opening set loss to score a 21-25, 25-17, 15-7 win over No Fear in Game 1 but could not complete their upset bid in Game 2.

In the second game, No Fear could not easily dispose off Fanians as they needed another three sets to finally wrap up the contest, 25-20, 23-25, 15-9.

No Fear’s members are Hank Magofna, John Rebuenog, Carl Torres, Rory Kaipat, Tito Francisco, Joemil Lisua, Pete Iguel, Jordan Marciano, Freddy Pelisamen, Rodney Rosario, and Nick Castro.

No Fear earned the first finals slot in the men’s side after a three-set 25-23, 24-26, 15-6 win over Ol’Aces.

Fanians earned the right of facing No Fear after a 25-14, 25-21 win over Ol’Aces.

No Fear finished second behind pennant winner Menudo in the standings as they ended the regular season with an 11-5 mark.

Top seed Menudo faded in the playoffs as they could not find the same spunk that allowed them to finish with a league-best 12-4 mark.

Fanians was third in the standings with a 10-6 slate similar to Ol’Aces. Some of Fanians wins were against teams that finished in the Top 4, including a stunning upset of Menudo in the early goings of the league.

In the women’s division, YoYo’s squeezed out a 25-15, 23-25, 15-12 victory against pennant winners Pikan Gaga.

YoYo’s foiled Pikan Gaga’s bid to go undefeated this season when they scored a 25-23, 23-20 win on Feb. 28 to end their opponents’ eight-game winning run. YoYo’s had the second-best record in the league with an 8-4 slate.

Gin Gridley, Mili Saiki, Akiko Endo, Kimberly Hutchison, Julie Bethke, Mika Okubo, Kelly Butcher, Linda Anastacio, Beverly Cabanatan, Amanda Puleo, and Mai are the members of YoYo’s.

YoYo’s earned the first finals berth after a 25-16, 22-25, 15-10 win over Pikan Gaga, who met Beach Jammers in the semifinals. Pikan Gaga downed Beach Jammers, 25-11, 25-17, to earn the right of facing YoYo’s in the finals.