Edzel Anthony Bayani 
In an unexpected twist of fate, the College of Industrial Technology (CIT) bid retained the honor of the main campus after upsetting the twice-to-beat championship favorite, SSU – Paranas Campus (PC), and tarnished their immaculate undefeated record by beating them twice in two succesive games, 2-0, in the SSU Palaro 2024 Men’s Volleyball Tournament Finals, this afternoon.
It was CIT’s barrage of diverse attacks that overpowered Paranas, with lethal attacks of Josh Abaigar and Rocecilio Romana, sly feint attacks of Wes Alegro and Rhum Rhum Amboyao, coupled with the marksmanship of Navarro’s serves and tosses that served as the offensive ordnance. Abaigar, Amboyao, and Romana also stood tall on the net as their defensive stronghold.
In the first game, CIT blemished Paranas’ victory record with destructive force as they swept the latter flawlessly. The CIT squad stunned PC with their playstyle—shifting attacks and solid blocks—adapting to their attacks, not giving Paranas a glimpse of hope, 3-0.
In the second championship game, the Paranas men led by RJ Quilapio’s defense, and backed by Rico Babalcon and Jandy Abenales’ violent shots, matched tempos with CIT, denying CIT’s second sweep hopes. Marlon Abaigar’s crucial blocks and attacks led Paranas to a desperate run to stay in the game, securing the fourth set and forcing CIT a do-or-die set.
As the night falls, the deciding set was moved to the SSU Gymnasium, CIT took advantage of the familiar court as they thumped PC decisively with Navarro’s accurate service aces igniting a scoring run, backed up by Sanico’s blocks and attacks, with an Alegro spike closing the match in emphatic fashion, 3-2.
About CIT’s toppling of their undefeated rival, the CIT squad captain Josh Abaigar said that they observed every elimination matchup, which allowed them to adapt to Paranas’ playstyle and trumped them despite being the top seed.
About the changing of courts, Abaigar remarked that it helped their playstyle massively as some of their teammates have weak eyesight causing errors in the quadrangle, and citing that they easily powered through Paranas because of their previous experience playing in the SSU Gymnasium and the utilization of plays they haven’t tried in the first game.
Until the end, with their signature agility and cunningness, CIT powered through Paranas and claimed the SSU Palaro 2024 Men’s Volleyball crown.
layout by Brian Benedict Orlanda | The Tradesman
View all photos on Facebook at: SSU Palaro
