Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
Defending champs Young Achievers, GTS set up final showdown
As predicted tournament favourites Young Achievers cruised into the final of this year’s GuyOil / Tradewind Tankers ‘True Champions’ Volleyball Competition which continued on Saturday with semi-final action, at the National Gymnasium.
Castrol Strikers Adolph Davis (backing camera) goes up for a smash in their clash against Young Achievers which the latter won to advance to the final on Saturday night.
The tournament, which was interrupted last year due to the unavailability of a venue, saw the defending champions register straight sets wins in the 4’s and 6’s format against an evidently improved Castrol Strikers unit to set up a much anticipated final showdown next Saturday against the ever improving GuySuCo Training School (GTS) who squeezed past counterparts Port Mourant Jaguars in similar formats.
In the first semi-final, GTS led by former national standout Seon Glasgow and junior nationals Quacy Matheson and Jared Jhingoree survived a severe test before winning 17-15, 15-9 in the 4’s format and returned later to edge the Jaguars once again 23-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-13 and 15-9.
They owe their win due to the fact that one of the key players on the Jaguars side suffered a sprained ankle and could take no further part in the day’s activities.
In the other half, Young Achievers led by the indomitable Randy Adams proved too strong and energetic for the revamped Castrol Strikers side.
They coasted to a 15-6, 15-8 triumph in the 4’s segment, before returning to close out the rubber in straights sets 25-17, 25-23, 25-22 in the 6’s format.
Apart from Adams, setter Khemraj Singh and Christopher Ramsundar produced solid performances, while veterans Ian Wills, Adolph Davis, Desta Hoppie, Jamal Duncan and Aswel Mohabir, also showed good form, but that was not enough to repel the juggernauts from the West Demerara.
Kaieteur Sport speaking with Castrol’s player Wills, was told that the team is in the middle of a transformation in terms of allowing the younger players to take a more prominent role in shaping the team going forward and this he mentioned is paying positive dividends, judging from the close scores against the much vaunted Young Achievers unit that has ruled the sport locally for over three years now.
“I like what I see, we are now fighting for every point and the mental aspect of our game has improved a bit so I’m eager to see how we perform against the Jaguars in the battle for third place,” Wills stated.
The winner of the competition will receive $80,000 and a trophy, runner-up $40,000 and a trophy and third place $20,000.
Starting time is 14:00 hrs, at the same venue.
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