OIA Boys Volleyball
Waipahu rallies to end streak against Mililani


  



Wed, Mar 21, 2018 @ Waipahu [ 6:30 pm ]


FINAL  1   2   3   4   5      
MIL (12-5) 25 17 8 - - 1
WAIP (11-6) 22 25 15 - - 2
Kill: K. Boctot (WAIP) 13 kills
Blk: O. Foe (WAIP) 4 blk

WAIPAHU -- Host Waipahu took down defending Oahu Interscholastic Association Division I champion Mililani, 22-25, 25-17, 15-8 in a Western Division contest at the Marauders' gymnasium on Wednesday night.

The Trojans (5-2) have gotten the best of the Marauders in recent seasons, including three wins during the previous year, but Waipahu prevailed for its first regular season win over Mililani since 2013 to improve to 5-2 in the league standings.

"It's big," said Ken Sachio Boctot. "We lost to them three times, regular season, postseason and states last year. We knew we had to get them back and it was a big game for us."

"It's always big against Mililani," added Waipahu coach Julna Pasicaran. "The kids tend to look at that they have to win and it was our night."

Boctot led the Marauders with 13 kills, seven digs and three blocks, and Bradly Tacata added 11 kills, nine digs. Michael Tacata and Ecxequiel Gamboa combined for 25 assists and Craig Agni had 14 digs and three aces.

"They (Ken and Bradly) have been consistent. We have to make sure that everyone has their share too," said Pasicaran.

The Trojans and Marauders traded points early on, but Mililani managed to pull away with four-point leads twice, 18-14 off of Aaron Iha's ace, and Caleb Pascual and Trey Camello combined for a block for a 24-20 lead. Waipahu scored the next two points but fell, 25-22.

"When they are nervous and don't talk, I tell them to keep talking so the energy goes up with them. They did that well this game with the second set," said Pasicaran, after the first set heading into the second.

The Marauders capitalized on Mililani's miscues to take an early 5-1 lead to force a Trojan timeout. Mililani managed to whittle the deficit down to three, 10-7, but the Marauders went on a 8-1 run to go up by double digits to force a third set.

Waipahu's Ken Boctot attempts a serve against Mililani in an OIA West contest Wednesday night. Michael Lasquero | SL    Purchase image

"My coaches told me to get on top of them from the start and keep going," said Boctot, on taking the lead and never letting go.

Similar to the second set, Waipahu took advantage of Mililani's errors to pull away despite the Trojans cutting it to four twice. The Marauders recaptured the emotion and momentum to seal the third set, 15-8.

"Our emotion plays a big part, the way we play and the way we feel and it carries on," said Boctot.

"They had to do their coverage and were frozen on the blocks. I told them, ‘We're doing the mistakes on their own without their help'. We have to make sure we're moving and on our toes and they did that in the second and third set," said Pasicaran.

Pascual led the Trojans with eight kills, Chance Guillermo, the reigning OIA West Player of the Year passed out 14 assists and Trent Matsubara added 14 digs.

Both the Trojans and Marauders will take a break from OIA league play to participate in the Hawaii Boys Volleyball Invitational at Iolani School starting on Mar. 22.

"It's good to play more games outside of the season and it's a good experience for the kids. The boys are excited," said Pasicaran.

Mililani plays Waianae on Mar. 28 while Waipahu travels to Waialua on Apr. 2.



Reach Brandon Ching at [email protected].




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