Tatana volleyball meet attracts 48 teams

THE Tatana Volleyball tournament kicked off on a positive note yesterday, with 48 teams participating.
The event attracted 32 men’s and 16 women’s teams, with an invitation extended to other Motu Koitabu villages and suburbs in the Moresby-Northwest electorate.
The match on day one was between the boys from Gerehu hillside against Vanama from Konedobu, with both teams putting on show their skills in front of a vocal crowd.
The man behind Hillside’s victory ace setter Junior Joe took centre stage and was very selective in front setting his power strikers John Tom and Jeffery Wari.
Tom and Wari were unstoppable powering their way through the fragile Vanama’s defence to edge out their opponents in the fourth set 25-16 to walk as outright victors 3 sets to 1.
Tournament president George Daera said the tournament was aimed at spreading the gospel of volleyball in the urban village.
It would also let local talents from Tatana village rub shoulders with players from other Motu Koitabu villages.
The neighboring villages who had fielded teams were Hanuabada, Fisherman Island, Baruni and Koukou, while hosts Tatana fielded 20 teams.
Youths in the village had shown interest in taking up volleyball as their favourite sport, and have set a focus on representing the country in the near future.
The initiative of introducing the tournament was to enhance their skills and prepare them for bigger events such as the national championships.
He also commended all the teams for participating in the competition which will end with the finals on Friday.