A battle for gold: Blue Knights remain as champions for women’s volleyball

Blood, sweat, and tears influenced the physical prowess carried by Amatong, altogether powered by her spirit to keep moving forward. All the while she was on the court, her feet remained steady, her palms firm, her eyes on the ball, and herself courageous to strike.

Amatong expressed gratitude, saying, “First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving us the strength to fight and win. Secondly, I want to thank my teammates for never giving up, our Nursing volleyball men’s team who cheered us up every time out, and every one of my friends who came to support me. Finally, I would like to thank the Nursing department for coming to our game and giving all their love and support. Being an MVP is one thing, but being someone who helped achieve the goal for the team is everything.”

Ready, set, spike!

The Nursing Blue Knights reigned triumphant over the PTOT Spartans in the women's volleyball championship game last October 20, 2023. The two exciting games lasted five sets in total!

During the first set, the Spartans took the lead with a score of 14-8. But as the match progressed, the Knights caught up. The crowds went wild as both sides alternately served and blocked attacks, tying the match at 24-24. The Knights then prevailed with a score of 28-26.

The Spartans started with a strong lead once the second set began, yet like the first, the Knights overtook them. They outdid the Spartans with straight spikes and powerful serves, so the Spartans tried to fight back with defensive blocks. With the heated match, the crowd chanted, “Aso, kalayo! Init kaayo!” Ultimately, the game bled to the third and final set. Knowing one more point can determine the champion or have another round played, the audience roared.

The Spartans opened the set by taking the first point, creating another lead. However, the Knights caught up once again. The game was tied as both teams took turns scoring. Eventually, with a strong spike, the Spartans won the third set. The first game was in their favor!

It was then a fierce battle for the Knights to stay on top in the second game, as they wanted to maintain the gold they bagged for women’s volleyball last school year. So, they embodied grace under pressure like second nature.

The final match lasted for about an hour. The first set was like a head-on collision, wherein both teams alternately scored a point. The Spartans shouted their mighty Awooo!”, while Knights counteracted by vocalizing “Dili papilde!” The verdict of the first set? 25-18, in favor of the Knights!

With the Knights’ win, the Spartans doubled their efforts to turn the tables. Avid volleyball fans and team supporters grew anxious with each made point. The game finally reached its climax as the Knights successfully won their match point against the Spartans – reclaiming their crown in women's volleyball!

While the Knights celebrated being champions, Jascha Krizelle L. Amatong was dubbed MVP. “While playing, all I did was relax and imagine happy and positive things. Although pressure is common, I just kept in mind to never lose sight of our ultimate goal — to become champions. I also wanted to make it memorable for our senior teammates, especially our captain,” Amatong said.

She continued, “We were all exhausted, but that didn't stop us from fighting, especially since PTOT won Game 1. We maintained our composure until the end and tried to enjoy the game. The last moments of each set were intense because we all worked hard to get to championships. It was tough for us, but we focused on strategizing ways to win. I experienced overwhelming feelings when serving because I made numerous errors that day. I wasn't sure about what to think, so I sustained my composure and concentrated on the match.”

Words from the MVP