Volleybakers takes Agape v-ball tiara

Volleybakers is the women’s division champions of the 4th Annual Agape Christmas Volleyball Tournament after defeating GG’z last Friday at the Agape Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

The women of Volleybakers—some of whom may or may not be bakers, but are definitely volleyball players—defeated GG’z in the finale of the 4th Annual Agape Christmas Volleyball Tournament last Friday at the Agape Gymnasium.

The Volleybakers, which was led by team captain Alisa Baquiles, Fatima Monterubio, Angel Calage, Cecile Guevarra, Julie Capayas, Helen Baker, Michelle Masga, Haram Lee, Alyssa Velasco, Julie Harrison, and Iszel Esteves, emerged from the tournament unscathed with no losses and clinched the women’s division championship in two sets, 25-21, 25-21.

Michelle Masga goes for a return during the first set of the championship game against the GG’z in the 4th Annual Agape Christmas Volleyball Tournament last Friday at the Agape Gymnasium. (LEIGH GASES)

In what seemed to be a loss for the Volleybakers in the first set, they overcame their nerves and came back to win after coming from behind. A couple of misplaced serves from the GG’z and missed returns allowed the Volleybakers to capitalize. 

GG’z in the second set were running on fumes as early on, they were leading from a few well placed serves which handed them a couple of aces.

But then, a plethora of spikes and well placed shots from the Volleybakers—most of which came from the heavy and fast right hand smacks of Monterubio and Buquiles—brought them out of the trenches of a 7-point deficit and took the lead. It was smooth sailing from there as the GG’z ran out of gas and could not come back to force a tie-breaking third set and fell to the Volleybakers.

The Volleybakers finished the season strong with an 8-0 card and made their way to the finals after defeating Saluta’s Helpers in the semifinals last Thursday.

Some players of the team were on the first championship team from 2019—Sweet Digs, including Esteves, Velasco, Guevarra, and Masga.

After the game, Baquiles said she was “overwhelmed because of the support of the team and our coach [Iszel Esteves]; we were able to fight until the end.”

With their young team, Esteves said they weren’t expecting to come out of the tournament undefeated. “Most of our teammates are beginners. There are only maybe three or four players from the old team. So most of our teammates are beginners and like three of them are under 16 years old. But it was a good opportunity for the youth to mix with us so they can learn as well and blend in with other players.”

On coaching the team, Esteves said it wasn’t hard. “They’re really coachable. They really listened to whatever I said, so I’m just trying my best to teach them from my experience… If it’s an easy opponent, don’t underestimate them, so just play hard. They will give their all so you have to give your all too.”

As to why their team was named Volleybakers, their team’s sponsor is Timothy Baker and a father of one of their teammates, Helen Baker. 

Baquiles then thanked their supporters, everyone who watched, Agape Christian School for hosting the tournament, and their team’s sponsor Timothy Baker.

“We were really looking forward to this ever since they posted it and it’s always fun to see all the volleyball lovers come together, play, and share sportsmanship and camaraderie with each other,” said Baquiles.

En Yang Pang, coordinator of the event, congratulated the winning teams and thanked all the players who joined and the fans who came out to support, along with the sponsors Agape Christian School for the facilities, Gold’s Gym Saipan, Fishing Tackle & Sporting Goods, and F&S Corp. for a successful tournament.