Latest update November 8th, 2024 12:17 AM
Young Achievers produce dominant performance
– promising Port Mourant Training School grab third place
By Rawle Welch
It wasn’t as if there was a case of doubt among many, but for the few that has some amount of reservation about Young Achievers standing in local volleyball, they got enough confirmation after witnessing a dominating performance in the final of the Tradewind Tankers ‘True Champions’ Tournament which ended Saturday night, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Led by arguably the best player in the country Randy Adams, Young Achievers demolished Castrol Strikers in all three formats of the final in convincing fashion to cart of the first prize of $80,000 and the winning trophy, while Adams and teammates Christopher Ramsundar and Khemraj Singh took four of the five individual prizes on offer to crown a spectacular tournament for them.
The outstanding performers (from left) Randy Adams, Khemraj Singh, Dester Hoppie and Christopher Ramsundar pose with their trophies Saturday night.
In the final, Achievers romped to an easy victory the 2’s format, winning 30-24, while they easily defeated their rivals 21-18, 21-13 in the 4’s, before producing another clinical performance in the 6’s which they won 25-19, 25-17 and 25-20 for the title.
Castrol Strikers took home $40,000 and a trophy.
In the playoff for third place, the ever improving Port Mourant Training School made up predominantly of Under-19 players currently preparing for the upcoming Inter-Guianas Games disposed of Rollers, also of Berbice to grab the $20,000 and a trophy.
They triumphed 21-16, 21-16 in the 4’s format, while they prevailed 26-24, 16-25, 25-20 and 25-23 in the 6’s version.
The final clash got started with the 2’s format and right away it looked as though the earlier boast of Castrol Strikers was not an idle one as they traded heavy artillery with the national champions and even nosed ahead by three points at one stage, before the West Demerara side rebounded to draw level at 21-all.
As has become customary with the Castrol unit, they always seem to disintegrate whenever they relinquish a lead and it happened once again as Achievers proceeded on a 9-3 run to clinch the 2’s format.
As Achievers Adolph Davis summed it up, they had the upper hand, before a series of unforced errors put paid to their chances of putting Achievers under pressure early.
They never got another chance as they easily succumbed in the other two formats to lengthen Achievers reign on the local scene.
Outstanding for Achievers were Adams, Singh, Ramsundar and Cleveland Peters, who was a formidable foe in the blocking department.
For Castrol, Kerwyn Richards came to the fore, but was unable to totally dominate due to the lack of opportunities, while Davis, Dester Hoppie and Ian Wills were far too inconsistent to bother the champions.
Port Mourant Training School gave another impressive display against their senior counterparts and seems to be a team to watch in the future.
Former national standout Seon Glasgow led from the front with some excellent spiking and blocking, while the performances of Jared Jhingree and Quacy Matheson were just as impressive.
Rollers, however, were worthy opponents ad had it not been a case of fitness and a degree of recklessness, the outcome might have been different.
They had their opportunities, but some careless errors cost them the match.
The prizes were distributed by President of the Guyana Volleyball Federation Lenox Shuffler and Castrol Strikers Candacy Deane.
Adams won the Most Valuable Player award, while Hoppie copped the Best Server; Singh-Best Setter, Adams Best Blocker and Ramsundar- Best Spiker.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
A lesson from the bread lines of America
…Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- If the American elections of 2024 delivered any one lesson to the rest of the world, it... more
Rising Gun Crimes in the Caribbean: Urgent Action required by all
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – There is an alarming surge in gun-related violence, particularly among younger... more
Weekend Cartoon
