Three semi-final games against UPR-Río Piedras and three exhilarating final games against the four times-winning LAI Volleyball Male Championship UNE, marked the exciting and hardworking road to the triumph of the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez’s Tarzanes on Thursday December 4th, in front of a loyal, cheering crowd that never stopped believing and rooting for the collegial colors.
UPRM’s Men Volleball Team celebrates their 17th LAI Male Volleyball Championship
In a tight, five-set game, “Colegio” rewarded their screaming fans with their 17th LAI Male Volleyball Championship. “Tarzanes” didn’t disappoint with an active attack, an alert defense, and a winning spirit that kept up the hopes of a coliseum filled with songs and cheers for them since the first set, to the very end. UPRM’s team captain, Gabriel Gracia and Julio Fontanet made a block that awarded “Tarzanes” the victory, concluding the set 15-12. A green and white draft of hundreds of “colegiales” rushed to the volleyball court to celebrate with our newly crowned CAAMpeones.
UNE was a strong contender and favorite to revalidate the championship for the fifth consecutive years, yet, as “Colegio’s” co-captain Orlando Delgado quoted on his Facebook account “Hard work beats talent, when talent does not work hard.” A special mention must be made to an anonymous hero, “El gordito del Colegio”; thanks to his leadership and enthusiasm the crowd maintained their energy and good behavior through the games, in order to support the “Tarzanes”. Whenever the crowd was quite he cheered it up, reminding fans to be there for their team, no matter the outcome.
Despite the games being held in a critic finals season and some far from campus, the attendance of a proud and excited cheering crowd of “colegiales” to the games was remarkable. It was team work, their talents and hard work- along with the fans’ enthusiasm and loyalty that bought the golden trophy back to UPRM after nine years of absence. A new sport dynasty rises, as LAI will have “Tarzanes pa’ rato”. Congratulations CAAMpeones! Thank you for making us proud! Antes, ahora y siempre, Colegio!
A green and white draft of hundreds of “colegiales” rushed to the volleyball court to celebrate with our newly crowned CAAMpeones.