By HENRY MORABANG
VABUKORI last night won its fourth consecutive national volleyball title after defeating archrival NCD 3 sets to one in the men’s grand final at the Sir John Guise stadium in Port Moresby.
Led by Tuvi Kapa who coordinated and set his players in Sere brothers, Norman and Sevse, Ravu Mahuru, Veipul Kila and Patrick Karu, the defending were too strong for the City boys.
Mahuru, who scooped the Player of the Tournament and Kila who collected the Most Improved player, led their villages boys to stunning victory over NCD boys.
NCD, led by Hula Gima, Richard Kila, Tuksy Maino and Jeffrey Gima, poured out everything they had but the boys from Vabukori just told them to come back next year and try harder.
However, this would be the last time the national championships played under the association concept as they will start using regional teams from next year onwards.
Fairfax beat Taikone to win the third sport.
In the women’s final, NCD broke the Fairfax dominance by thrashing them 3 sets to one in winning the crown.
Led by skipper and player of the tournament Kaini Tau, the most-improved player of the tournament Vali Iamo and Patricia Gima, NCD never looked back after romping home in the opening sets 25-23.
The defending champion Fairfax fielded a strong side which include skipper Alice Ito, her assistant Dorothy Kivung, Helai Oala, Diane Sailas and Julie Itoro had no answer for their sister club from NCD.
In the third and fourth play-off, Tabubil with their never-say-die attitude stretched their Vanagi opponent to the limit to go down three sets to one.
Prominent volleyballer Andrew Ikufu described the play-off as the best match of the tournament.
Tabubil did not go empty-handed as Jelix Neki won the Special Talent Award from the PNG National Volleyball Federation as a promising future player.