Keeping the momentum up in the Lyceum gym last December 16, 2011 proved a struggle for the San Beda Red Spikers as an Arellano University-filled crowd carried their Chiefs to a hard-fought victory. Enduring jeers from the audience, our very own started the first set rather shakily. A series of miscommunications and unforced errors allowed the Arellano squad to capitalize and nab the first set with a score of 25-20.
The Red Spikers, however, regained composure and dominated the second set. Opening with an attack off the Arellano block, Outside Hitter Lorenzo Capate paved the way for Bedan dynamics. Outside Hitter Gilbert Ablan also stepped up, giving the Mendiola-based team an early lead. This consistency allowed the team to cruise to the next set with a score of 25-16.
The third set was the bloodiest out of all. It was an all-out warfare as both teams duked it out in a game of power. A series of back-and-forths kept the game tight until the latter half, when the Arellano Chiefs were able to take the lead by three points. The Red Spikers did not let the challenge remain unanswered though, and eventually pushed the set to deuces. A down the line hit by Ablan, forcing the Arellano defenders to chase a futile ball, opened up a fourth set with a score of 26-24.
Starting out strong in the fourth set was no problem for the Red Spikers. However, due to unfortunate events, the chance of the Bedan team clinching victory was slightly marred. After a strong hit in the middle by Capate, he tumbled down, seemingly unable to stand. It was only after a few moments that he was able to pick himself up to be substituted by the rookie Alfie Mascariñas. Tragically enough, Mascariñas was also injured after a few rallies battling it out with the Arellano blockers. This forced the team into changing strategies. Lord Luna, a standout from NU high school made his presence felt but not good enough to suppress a rejuvenated AU squad. Team captain James Lorca was also forced to play Outside Hitter, with Rey Africa as his replacement in the setter position. The fourth set ended 25-18, while the fifth set ended with a score of 15-10. Chris Salvador of AU did more of the damage during the fourth and fifth sets as he pummeled through the defense of the Red Spikers.
Based on the stats that the RS Sites Team had for the match, the Red Spikers had more spikes with 86 compared to the Chiefs’ 71. However, the team had more unforced errors with 34 as compared to 13 of the latter. There was no doubt as to the San Beda Red Spikers’ valiant effort in fighting against the Arellano University Chiefs. They fought hard and well, with both heart and mind guiding each dig, set, and swing. They kept their dignity intact. The same could not be said for a certain player of the Arellano squad, however, who degraded his own reputation with every taunt he used to provoke the Bedan squad. After every kill, he would do shooting motions with his hands in an effort to look cool. With this foul exhibition in mind, one is made to think: where has the code of sportsmanship disappeared to? Most volleyball players would agree that cheering after a good play is justified, as long as it is kept respectful. This is achieved by cheering facing your teammates, not cheering in the face of the opponent. Through-the-net comments should be taken as insults. His actions should not have been tolerated, and he should have long been given a red card in this writer’s opinion. Another disheartening fact was the crowd’s involvement in lambasting our team. In the face of the injuries sustained by Capate and Mascariñas, they opted to boo instead of lending their sympathy to the athletes. I guess no more could be expected from them. On the other hand, the San Beda Lady Red Spikers prevented a shut out as they earned a hard fought victory against the Lady Chiefs, 25-23, 24-26, 24-26, 25-18, 15-8.
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