Mokokchung, October 7 (MTNews): The 12th edition of the Luke Sasong Memorial Volleyball Trophy 2022 organized by the Luke Sasong Sporting Association under the aegis of Mangmetong Students’ Union culminated on Friday with MH-10, Kohima winning the encounter against rivals Changtongya Volleyball Association ‘A’ at the Multipurpose Sports Complex in Mokokchung.
In the final match of the tournament, seasoned rivals MH-10, Kohima and Changtongya Volleyball Association ‘A’ who had previously contested in the finals of the 15th Imchaba Memorial Open Volleyball Tropy in September 2022 where the former won, had yet again met in an el-classico final encounter.
In the first set of the best of five final match, both the teams showed composure with aggressive offenses being made troubling each other. However, Changtongya’s lack of concentration in the last points of the first set meant that MH-10 could secure the set with a comfortable 25-18 score line.
The second set of the match witnessed MH-10 outplay CVA yet again with their offensive prowess ensuring that CVA’s defense could not return, ending the set with little to no competition as the Kohima based team won the set with a score line of 25-19.
The Changtongya side mustered fighting spirit in the third set as MH-10 players started displaying signs of fatigue with their defense unable to respond to the CVA’s offensive strikes who aced continued points culminating in the third set’s final score line of 25-20.
With nothing to lose, MH-10 delivered an all out performance in the fourth and winning set to become the champions of the tournament. Changtongya were unable to seize an opportunity against the champions as they went on to give a fight for the set during the initial stages; however, their quest to lift the trophy met a so-close-yet-so-far ending as they lost the 4th set with a score line of 25-21.
The champions of the tournament MH-10 were presented with certificates and monetary award of Rs. 70,000 while runners up Changtongya Volleyball Association ‘A’ were presented with certificates and monetary award of Rs. 40,000. The losing semifinalists Kumlong Sporting Association ‘A’ and Longkhum Students Union were presented with monetary awards of Rs. 10,000 each.
Individual prizes during the tournament were awarded to the Best Setter-Tongpangsunep from MH-10, Best Spiker- Reshitemjen from MH-10 and Man of the Tournament to Imkongsanen from Changtongya Volleyball Association ‘A’
Sharingain Longkumer, Speaker, Nagaland Legislative Assembly gracing the closing ceremony as the guest of honour highlighted the life of Luke Sasong and stated that what he could achieve in 27 years of his life is something one should learn a lesson from and emulate.
Stressing on the tournament’s theme, “Unity through sports,” the Speaker went on to urge the players to play a fair game while participating in sports so unity can prevail.
He went on to cite the famous quote of Luke Sasong, “We live in deeds not in years, in though not in breaths, and he lives most who thinks best.”
