ATHLETICS

What Champions are Made of
Kirby Cheng (H3C), Volleyball Player

Photos courtesy of Ms. Rachelle De Vera, Registrar's Office

Posted Friday, 25-Nov-2005 8:02 AM

      Last November 19, 2005, at the Philippine Cultural High School gym, the Xavier High School Volleyball Team won back its former glory of being crowned Champions of the Filipino-Chinese Amateur Athletic Federation (FCAAF) Volleyball Tournament after prevailing over St. Stephen’s High School. The team’s victory ended the championship drought after six years of waiting for this well-deserved moment.

      At the beginning of the 1st set, Xavier took an early lead with the powerful quick spikes of Leonard Loo and Kirby Cheng. This set the tone as Xavier pulled away from St. Stephen early on in the match, but the opponents showed their resiliency and pulled within 4 points of Xavier School . At this point, Coach Albert of the Xavier School Team called a timeout to remind the players that they were at moment they have all been waiting for and letting go nor relaxing was not an option. After the coach’s motivational words, Xavier seemed to have renewed vigor and once again pulled away courtesy of the excellent receptions and thunderous spikes of Jordan Tee and Julio Inocencio. With the Stallion spikers’ performance, Xavier went on to win the opening set, 25-21.

      In the 2nd set, though, things seemed to be different as St. Stephen gained an early lead. Midway through the set, the rival team still had the advantage but soon afterwards, Xavier regained the lead when Coach Albert shouted from the bench, “ Habulin niyo ‘yan! ” With these words, everything swayed to Xavier’s favor as everyone on the floor stepped up for the Xavier team. Serves, spikes, sets, and receptions, all somehow landed in place to allow Xavier to win the second set, 25-23.

      Lagging behind by two sets, St. Stephen began the 3rd set with an early lead, but thanks to some stops, which came from numerous blocks, Xavier was able to catch up. From then on, the Xavier team never looked back. Staging their best plays, the Xavier boys awed their opponents with their destructive defense and impeccable offense. Sealing the last and final set of the match was team captain Richard Uy who put a period to St. Stephen’s hopes by nailing a spike sending the crowd to scream their lungs out as Xavier won the set 25-18 and the match 3-0.

      Heart, skill, discipline, and perseverance are what champions are made of. With each player demonstrating these, the Xavier Volleyball team together with its coaches truly deserves to be called champions.

      Now that the team has tasted sweet victory, it has become even more determined to play in order to make their light shine. Having enough faith in the Lord and confidence in themselves the Xavier spikers are sure to go out and play every game as if it were their last.

      The winning team is composed of Angelo Santos of H2B; Kyle Ong of H2D; Audren Wong of H2E; Andrew Sy of H2F; Henri Tan of H2H; Leonard Loo of H3A; Julio Inocencio, Mark Tan, and Jordan Tee of H3B; Mark Chan, Kirby Cheng and Christopher Gotianun of H3C; Sean Tiu of H4B; Jaime Leogardo and Richard Uy, team captain, of H4C. The coach that guided them to victory was Mr. Albert Hao and he was assisted by Mr. Kurt Chan.

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