Gerry D’Mello
Daijiworld Media Network - Canada

Canada, Jul 25: The Mangalorean Association of Canada's powerful volleyball team 'Ball Busters' clinched the prestigious 2013 GOA Summer Games Volleyball trophy July 21 at the Clarkson Community Centre, Mississauga, Canada. That was indeed a comfortable victory with straight games in the best of three finals (21-17, 21-19). The MAC Ball Busters were the only team in the entire tournament to remain unbeaten. A junior MAC team 'Serv-ivors' fought hard but couldn't qualify.

The organizers The Goan Overseas Association (GOA) is a vibrant sports and cultural association formed in 1970 to unite the 40,000-strong Goan community in the Greater Toronto Area. Their goal is to unite the Goan, Mangalorean and East Indian community using sports as a medium. Apart from volleyball they also organize badminton, basketball, carom, darts, fileld hockey, golf, trouque and soccer.

Totally eleven teams took part in the all day tournament, divided into two groups. The triumphant MAC team consisted of just 7 players, led by captain Vidya Alvares. The others were Malcolm Britto, Santhosh DSouza, Wilson DSouza, Ajith Noronha, Rocky Yakhmi and Kyle D'Mello. There can be no greater thrill than winning a competition. These seven super-stars made themselves and the entire Mangalorean community proud!

The commanding captain Vidya Alvares led from the front with her cool temperaments. She was very much appreciated by the players for her great leadership and immense sportsmen sprit. Wilson and Ajit
made sure that the ball was in play and the passing and setting up worked to perfection for the Ball Busters to earn the points to keep the team ahead at all times. Santhosh and Rocky were amazing who set the courts of fire! The packed audience loved to see the booming and pounding smashes. Some of them really stung the opponents, who strugged their shoulders and shook their heads. Malcolm and Kyle, the senior and the junior of the team kept the ball in play at all times.