12/12/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐
By Arnel Calipjo
๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐, ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐จ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ - ๐น๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ . ๐น๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ , ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ, ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐โ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก. ๐ต๐ข๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐, ๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐๐๐โ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐, ๐ถ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐.
With grit sharpened by years of heartbreak plus a system refined through discipline and sacrifice, Central Unit (Bacarra National Comprehensive High School) crushed South Unit (Paoay National High School) in a masterful 3 straight set sweep (25-18, 25-19, 25-19) to capture the 2025 Ilocos Norte Division Athletic Association (INDAA) Volleyball Men Championship at the BNCHS Covered Court.
This breakthrough win came under the leadership of Head Coach Denzdy Santos, who guided his team through yearss of rebuilding and recalibration while patiently waiting for this victory has more than a titleโit was a vindication, a release from heartbreaks and a long-awaited redemption.
โWe won due to upskilling, trainings and sacrifices. I set aside my hot-temperedness this year and I think that's a big conquering factor,โ Santos said, moments after the breakthrough win that had eluded BNCHS for a decade.
๐๐๐ญ ๐: ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ
Both squads opened the finals trading early blows with deadlocks at 1โ1, 4โ4, 5โ5, 6โ6, and 7โ7. But the tide shifted when Laurence Aquillo broke loose, unleashing consecutive spikes that triggered an 11โ6 run and pushed Central to an 18โ13 edge.
Southโs team captain and top scorer Bautista fired back with crosscourt missiles and a deceptive placing, but CU captain Dexter Jake Agonoy tightened the defensive wall at the net, quashing every attempt to rally back. Central wrapped up the first frame at 25โ18, setting the tone for the sunny morning.
๐๐๐ญ ๐: ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฐ๐๐ซ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ
South Unit stormed into the second set with renewed aggression, forcing early ties at 1โ1 and 2โ2. But Centralโs power trioโRivera, Agonoy, and Aquilloโstrung together a series of well-timed hits that carved out an 11โ7 advantage.
But South refused to fold. Bautista caught fire, delivering placings, an off-speed strike, and back-to-back service aces that slashed the deficit to just one, 17โ16.
Just when the momentum threatened to shift, Centralโs power hitter Aquillo turned the set on its head with two booming aces, before firing one rocket and a perfectly disguised placing to lift CU to a 25โ19 cushion and a critical 2โ0 lead.
๐๐๐ญ ๐: ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ซ, ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ
The third installment erupted in a flurry of exchanges. Rivera and Aquillo spearheaded a blistering 6โ2 start, only for Bautista and his crew to counter with aggressive swings and persistent blocks. But Centralโs machine-like cohesion was simply too much.
With Agonoy, Aquillo, and Kenneth Lee Vicsitacion rotating in perfect sync, CU built a commanding 20โ14 buffer. Bautista attempted one last heroic standโhammering back-to-back attacks and a vicious service aceโbut the margin was too wide, and Central too poised.
A final rally sealed the third set at 25โ19, sending the BNCHS crowd into triumphant celebration.
๐๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ
Player Rivera, who finished with 12 points (9 attacks, 3 blocks, 1 ace), was the steady anchor of Centralโs offense.
โThis was the toughest tournament Iโve ever played, and every win in the previous ones pushed me to train harder. What matters most is sharpening my best skills and strengthening the strategy in my mind,โ he said.
South Unitโs Bautista also stood tall with 11 points (6 attacks, 2 blocks, 3 aces).
โEvery great celebration has its own tough momentsโฆ Whether we win or lose, weโll keep training harder until we earn that title,โ he said with sportsmanship and resolve.
