By Arlan F. Llanes and Maylanie S. Llanes

In a match filled with gravity-defying kicks, nail-biting rallies, and heart-stopping momentum shifts, Region IV-A CALABARZON edged past a resilient Region I squad in straight sets, 17-15, 15-6, to punch their ticket to the Sepak Takraw Boys Elementary Division finals at the MMSU Covered Court, May 29.

            Both teams came into the semifinal clash carrying unbeaten records and a reputation for high-octane play, and they did not disappoint. With a finals berth on the line, every point was fiercely contested, every serve calculated, and every spike roared by a gym full of cheering supporters.

            The first set was a showcase of raw talent and nerves of steel from both squads. Region I came out aggressive, with striker Lance Aehron Ridulme firing off multiple acrobatic spikes that kept CALABARZON scrambling on defense.

        

    Feeder Rhed Gumpad set the tone with accurate tosses, while tekong Zhian Chris Calastravo delivered crisp serves that pressured the CALABARZON backline.

            CALABARZON, however, responded in kind. Jiromon Pascual, their high-flying striker, answered with his own aerial attacks, often timing his jumps perfectly to pierce through Region I’s block attempts.

            Jimmuel Leona kept the rhythm steady as feeder, while tekong Paul Kim Machon delivered with composed and calculated serves.

            Despite CALABARZON’s efforts, it was Region I who first reached set point, surging ahead to 14-12. A booming service ace from Calastravo and a drop shot from Ridulme pushed Region I to the brink of taking the opener.

           

But CALABARZON refused to fold. Pascual drilled a clean spike off a misdirection from Leona to make it 13-14, and Machon followed up with a service that forced an error, tying it at 14-all.

            What followed were three furious rallies. Region I’s attack faltered under the pressure, committing a service error to give CALABARZON a 15-14 edge.

           

After a brief exchange of points, Pascual closed the set with a thunderous kill, capping a stunning 17-15 comeback.

            “This team has been working hard on staying calm in crucial moments,” said CALABARZON head coach Romark Piano. “Even when we were down, they didn’t panic instead, they played for each other.”

            The second set began with both teams still brimming with intensity, but the momentum clearly favored CALABARZON.

            Midway through the set, Region I suffered a major blow when tekong Calastravo went down with an apparent ankle injury while attempting a block. He was replaced by reserve player Aian Christian Unciano, but the adjustment disrupted their flow.

            CALABARZON capitalized quickly as Leona and Pascual executed a series of combination plays, with Machon continuing to pressure Region I’s weakened reception line.

            The Rizal-based Region 4A squad surged to a 10-3 lead and never looked back, sealing the second set 15-6 in dominant fashion.

            Despite the loss, Region I coach Magellan Sarandi remained optimistic. “We fought hard. The boys showed heart. Losing our tekong was tough, but we’ll regroup and give it our best in the bronze match.”

            CALABARZON now advances to the finals against the National Capital Region (NCR), while Region I will battle Region XII SOCCSKSARGEN for third place.