Terminators won their unprecidented 13th title with a reverse sweep of Jus Bless. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

TORTOLA—Defending BVI Amateur Volleyball Associations Terminators and ‘n Motion, retained their respective men and women’s crowns, with 4-1 Friday night victories.

For Terminators, it was their record 13^th crown. “We said we would hit them three straight, but we never said how,” player-coach, Elswort Phillip said, moments after pulling out a 22-25, 25-19, 25-15 and 25-16 triumph. “So we hit them from behind. But, Terminators as a team, first of all we are friends. A lot of us have been playing for a while with the addition of one or two. So, friendship is the strength of this team.”

After the first set win, Jus Bless’ Drexel Glasgow said his team got a little bit slow on their feet and Terminators got the upper hand. He thought his team played well but missed a lot of points they should have gotten.

“We made some unforced errors and in a top game like this, we always have to have our heads on,” he said. “It’s a mental game sometimes and we just didn’t get it. But, I still feel good about the team. This is our second year in the league and we played to the top so I still feel good about it.”

Setter Osbert “Cushung” Pole said they came out shaky in the first set as they were concentrating on defense—which was setting up to bring the offense. “Experience took us up off the ground and players believing in one another, that’s what it’s all about. Just Bless is a team with two doctors, but they couldn’t’ pull though this surgery so, I’ve earned the right to brag.”

'n Motion defended their title with a 4-1 win over Raw Power. Photo>Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway

Pole said the 13^th title was a little sweater than the rest because of all of the pregame hype from a 2-point loss to Jus Bless during the regular season that ended their winning streak that began at the start of the 2007 season.  Pole said that two point loss motivated them.

“It’s all about experience. You can’t go to any volleyball school or college to get experience. They don’t teach experience,” he said. “Experience comes by being there, playing, doing it, talking the talk and doing the walk. And that’s what we are all about. I must say this—I told you so.”

Roy Barry’s ‘n Motion squad polished off Raw Power in four sets, 25-16, 23-25, 25-16 and 25-15 to retain the women’s crown.

“It’s always special to win and everybody aims to win and once you enter the competition, winning is always glorious,” Barry said.  “This team is a team with a lot of experience. All we have to do is to stick together as a unit and practice hard. If we do that, I don’t think there’s any team around here that can beat us.”