Defending champions, Big South East Port-of-Spain joined former winners Technocrats as automatic semifinalists in the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB)/ The Office of the Prime Minister T&T Volleyball Federation Super League Men's 'A' Division outplaying La Cura Sport in their final round-robin Pool A decider on Tuesday night.
Playing in front of a large crowd in the final match of the double-header at the Central Regional Indoor Sports Arena, Saith Park, Chaguanas, SEPoS prevailed in five sets, 26-24, 25-19, 23-25, 21-25, 15-11.
The very experienced SEPoS bolted out the gates winning a very close first set 26-24 and also took the second set 25-19 with strong play from Akim Bushe, Nolan Tash all coordinated by the Caribbean’s leading setter Kamron Donald.
However, the new kids on the block La Cura Sport
lead by Marlon “Waldo” Phillip and Enrique Harry battled back taking the third and the fourth set s 25-23, 25-21 to set up a fifth and deciding set in which the SEPoS held a narrow one-point lead at 12-11 before winning the next three points for a 15-11 win.
The match was a historic one this season, in that it featured most points in the competition and marked a fitting end to the preliminary round.
With the win, SEPoS ended with a perfect 4-0 Pool A round-robin record and 17 points, to move straight to the semifinals while La Cura Sport ended second with a 3-1 mark and 14 points for a quarterfinal clash with Pool B third-placed finishers, Glamorgan.
The second semifinal will feature Pool B runner-up Zenith and Pool A's Toco Youths Volleyball Academy who dispatched Challenges 25-10, 25-20, 25-16 in Tuesday's opener, a winner-take-all encounter.
In the Women's 'A' Division table-toppers Glamorgan will play Big Sepos in one semi-final whilst La Cura Sport will meet defending champions West Side Star in the other.
At the end of the competition, the T&T Volleyball Federation will consider the results of the Super League 'A' Division as they select the clubs to compete in the prestigious Premier League in December with the finals teams to be announced on Wednesday.
TUESDAY'S 'A' DIVISION RESULTS
Men
Pool A
Toco Youths bt Challengers 25-10, 25-20, 25-16
Big SEPoS bt La Cura Sports 26-24, 25-19, 23-25, 21-25, 15-11
Latest Pool Standings
Women’s*A*Division
Teams*P*W*L*PF*PA*SF*SA*Pts
1.*Glamorgan*5*5*0*400*253*15*1*24
2.*West*Side*Stars*5*4*1*388*264*13*4*20
3.*La*Cura*Sport*5*3*2*352*276*10*6*16
4.*Big*SEPoS*5*2*3*307*323*6*9*10
5.*Toco*Youths*5*1*4*255*359*3*12*5
6.*Zenith*5*0*5*172*377*0*15*0
Men’s A Division
PoolA
Teams*P*W*L*PF*PA*SF*SA*Pts
1.*Big*SEPoS*4*4*0*355*277*12*3*17
2.*La*Cura*Sports*4*3*1*386*348*11*6*14
3.*Toco*Youths*4*2*2*317*293*8*6*12
4.*Challengers*4*1*3*247*290*4*9*6
5.*Southern*United*4*0*4*219*316*1*12*1
Pool B
Teams*P*W*L*PF*PA*SF*SA*Pts
1.*Technocrats*4*4*0*343*261*12*2*18
2.*Zenith*4*3*1*396*375*10*8*11
3.*Glamorgan*4*2*2*351*288*9*7*12
4.*Defence*Force*4*1*3*335*380*5*11*5
5.*Central*Warriors*4*0*4*241*373*4*12*4