Heavy is the head that wears the crown.
A unique type of pressure weighs on those at the top, especially in moments that threaten to end their reign. Such was the case for reigning volleyball champions—the Psychology Society’s (PsychSoc) women’s team and Kabataang Pilipinong Aakay sa Bayan’s (KAPILAS-Bayan) men’s team—when they faced this year’s ambitious and strong challengers: the Literature, Language, and Culture Society (LILACS) and the MSU-IIT Sociology Society (MISS), respectively, at the championship games on Sunday, January 26.
On one end stood last year’s champions, boasting unbroken winning streaks to get their spot in the finals. On the other were the formidable challengers who fought tooth and nail to prove themselves worthy of a chance to the top.
The championship games for both men’s and women’s volleyball were nothing short of heart-stopping as it stretched into two games, the last one being a rubber match.
The pressure weighed heavily on the reigning teams, Psyche and Neoleides, as they struggled through their first game against the resilient Glossa and Koinos. The former found themselves reeling as these strong contenders dominated them back-to-back, sweeping them off their feet, and threatening their crown.
Glossa stunned Psyche in the opening game, 25-20, 25-19, while Koinos dismantled Neoleides, 25-21, 25-17. For Glossa and Koinos, this was a game-changing moment—an opportunity to level the playing field against the reigning champions. With their wins, Glossa and Koinos forced a do-or-die rubber match against Psyche and Neoleides, compromising the latter’s twice-to-beat advantage.
However, Psyche and Neoleides mounted a fierce comeback in the first set of their second game, breaking free from the pressure and the loss they suffered in their opening match. In nail-biting finishes that kept spectators on edge, they secured hard-fought victories at deuces: 28-26 against Glossa and 26-24 against Koinos.
Building on their momentum from the second set, Psyche’s women’s team took control of the match with a series of powerful spikes and key saves. Despite Glossa’s persistent effort, they couldn’t keep pace and ultimately fell 17-25, allowing Psyche to secure the victory and successfully defend their reign.
In a private interview, Ivy Ann Bongalos, Psyche’s team captain, shared that she did not feel any pressure throughout the game because she was confident in her team’s abilities to win.
“Wala ra jud ko napressure or nakulbaan, maybe more worried kay di ko ganahan ma sad ang mga people. Gusto ko na madaog para happy ang tanan,” Bongalos expressed lightheartedly. “Salig jud ko sa akoang team. Kabalo ko modaog mi adto,” she added.
For Neoleides and Koinos’ men’s volleyball teams, the journey was far from over as Koinos claimed the second set with a 25-19 victory, setting the stage for a third set to break the tie.
In an intense final set, where every moment seemed to tip the scales, KAPILAS-Bayan’s Neoleides ultimately prevailed, winning 16-14 and extending their reign of glory for a second consecutive year.
Estoy Amante, Neoleides’ team captain, expressed that he felt there was a lot of pressure on the team to win due to their twice-to-beat advantage. He shared that in the first game, their energy was low, which made them realize they were missing something important—celebrating every point. By the second game, he said their team focused on energizing each other and maintaining high spirits.
“Nakuha namo ni nga championship tungod sa help sa akoang mga teammates. Teamwork gyud to,” Amante emphasized.
Although only two reigning teams claimed the crown, it is undeniable that all four who reached the championships proved themselves as true powerhouses. For strength lies not only in the title it brings but also in the courage to rise and fight until the very end.
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