By: Anthonete S. Alvarez
Having a heart of a champion, LPU-Laguna’s Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball teams overpowered their respective opponents to bring home the crown in DepEd West District Meet (Private Schools).
Arya, Pirata!
Boys’ team defeated the gusty Marybelle Montessori School in straight sets, 25-21, 25-13, 25-11, in a highly contested gold medal match.
The first set was a close fight with both teams showing desire to win. It was LPU-Laguna’s grit and composure that made them win it.
Second set was a different ball game. Marybelle Montessori School can’t just find their groove after their first set loss. Seeing the opponent’s vulnerability, LPU-Laguna took charge and dominated the set.
With backs against the wall, Marybellians showed resilience in a do-or-die third set – trying to keep the score close with LPU-Laguna. But with a champion heart, Pirates sailed away to win the set and eventually winning their 4th title.
Display of Dominance
Meanwhile, Girls’ team dominated its opponent, Mary Help of Christians College – Salesian Sisters Inc., in a loop-sided straight sets victory, 25-6, 25-11, 25-22.
The first two sets favored the offensive LPU-Laguna. They were challenging MHCC’s defense through their strong hits — limiting MHCC’s score to 6 and 11 in first and second set respectively.
But MHCC did not go home without giving a fight. They doubled their second set score and tried to keep up with the defending champions. But in the end, Pirates captured the set and once again defended their title.
The tournament was joined by other private schools in the cluster including UPHSD-Calamba, Xavier School Nuvali, Canlubang Institute, and Golden Wisdom School.
Eyes on the Prize
Junior Pirates had nothing in mind but to go home with the championship trophy. They were firing on all cylinders.
“For our game plan, [first] we set our goal to claim again the championship title. Then we make sure that the whole team, from the coaches up to the players, are conditioned enough, ready and prepared to compete.” said Hazel Mea, coach of Girls’ Team and head of LPU-Laguna Athletics Department.
And with the teams’ championship, they are set to compete in the DepEd Cluster Meet where they will face the champions of every cluster in the whole district.
“For the preparation to the next level, we will continue training. Mag-double training kami because tumataas yung level ng competition and we have to be more ready and prepared bago kami lumaban ulit.”, Mea stated.
A budding Pirates Dynasty
These back-to-back victories are the 4th straight championship titles for both LPU-Laguna’s Boys’ and Girls’ Volleyball teams.
In a personal message sent by Mea to Communicators’ Society, the jubilant coach can’t help but reminisce the challenges the teams had to go through before reaching this triumphant situation.
“To tell you honestly, napakalaking sakripisyo ng mga players na mag-aral maghapon and then, mag-training sa gabi for us to achieve our goal and of course to give recognition to our institution. Kaya sobrang nakaka-proud din.” – Coach Mea.
When asked about the secret behind the success of Junior Volleyball program, Mea briefly said, “It is the system that we have in our trainings and games. And we train our athletes not just physically but also emotionally and mentally.”
The Captains of the Ship
Boys’ team is headed by the multi-titled volleyball coach Sherwin Garais with Jasper Paulo Rodriguez as his deputy.
Former LPU-Laguna Women’s Volleyball Team captain and a champion player, Hazel Mea, is calling the shot for the Girls’ Team with Jasper Paulo Rodriguez as her assistant. — JPS
