International School of Port-of-Spain and St George’s College will contest Saturday’s 2020 Secondary Schools Volleyball League Championship Under-16 Boys’ Division final at the National Cycling Velodrome in Balmain, Couva.
Playing at the same venue on Thursday last, St George’s College, under the guidance of coach Peer Nassier, played unbeaten in their four-team round-robin pool group before beating Chaguanas North Secondary in their semifinal.
In the round-robin phase, St George’s College defeated International School of Port-of-Spain in their Pool A opener 2-0 (15-10, 15-11), Tunapuna Secondary 2-0 (15-8, 15-1) and Barrackpore West Secondary 2-0 (15-6, 15-7), before they swept past Chaguanas North Secondary 2-0 (15-5, 15-9) for their spot in the title match.
International School, coached by former national setter Saleem Ali, rebounded from their loss to St George’s to get wins over Barrackpore West 2-0 (15-9, 17-15) and Tunapuna Secondary 2-0 (15-7, 15-13) for second spot in the pool with a 2-1 record. They followed this up with a 2-0 (15-6, 15-3) spanking of Maple Leaf International in their quarterfinal and then an upset of last year’s winners’ Pleasantville Secondary 2-0 (15-10, 16-14) in the semifinal.
Pleasantville Secondary had won the round-robin phase of Pool B with a 2-0 record via victories against Chaguanas North Secondary 2-1 (9-15, 15-9, 15-10) and Maple Leaf International 2-1 (15-6, 12-15, 15-6), while Chaguanas North were second at 1-1 after beating Maple Leaf 2-0 (15-13, 15-9).
And in the knockout phase, Chaguanas North overcame Pool A third-placed finishers Tunapuna Secondary, who ended with a 1-2 round-robin record, 2-0 (15-8, 17-15). In the other matches on Thursday, Tunapuna defeated Barrackpore 2-1 (12-15, 15-9, 15-12)
Before the final, Pleasantville and Chaguans North will meet for the third spot on Saturday as well.
Today (February 17) from 9 am at Couva, the Under-14 Girls’ competition takes place with title-holders St Joseph’s Convent (St Joseph) set to defend their crown while on Wednesday (February 19) their Under-16 team goes after a title-repeat.
Last year in the Under-14 decider, St Joseph’s Convent overcame South East Port-of-Spain (SEPoS) 25-20, 25-12 while in the Under-16 age-group the east-based school battled past International School 25-20, 23-25, 15-10.
Remaining competition schedule
(Venue: National Cycling Velodrome, Balmain, Couva)
Girls’ Under-14 Division, February 17
Girls’ Under-16 Division, February 19
Finals: February 22