SECONDARY boys defending champion Unit 6 survived a 25-21, 25-18 thriller in the group eliminations to keep its title-retention hopes alive as the Davao City Athletic Association (DCAA) Meet 2018 resumed at the Davao City National High School (DCNHS) Multi-Purpose Hall Wednesday.

Composed mainly of Ateneo de Davao University players, Unit 6 trailed by as much as three points in the early going of the match but Unit 8 made adjustments, tightening defense to recover and claim the first set.

The Dinri Yambao-coached Unit 6, reinforced by Assumption College of Davao and University of the Immaculate Conception (UIC) players, then kept its momentum in the second set to secure the win. Unit's 6 feat came on the heels of beating Unit 7 Tuesday, 25-9, 25-10.

Yambao, in an interview after the game, said, “Gi-try ra namo mudepensa kay diha magsugod tanan. Stop namo ang attack nila aron maka-regain mi og momentum (We tried defending because that's where it all starts. We stopped their attacks so we could recover).”

He added that Unit 8 was among the toughest teams to beat in the tournament. Facing Unit 3 today, he said, would be easier for them but assured they won't be complacent.

From last year's DCAA champion team, only four veterans remained in the current Unit 6 roster while the rest are newbies.

“Hopefully, tuloy-tuloy na sa finals at mag-champion ulit,” Yambao said.

In secondary girls, Unit 5 upset defending champion Unit 1, 25-23, 26-24, while Unit 4 turned back Unit 7, 25-20, 25-16, and Unit 6 routed Unit 3, 25-19, 25-10.

Unit 6 elementary boys team escaped past Unit 2, 25-15, 25-20 while Unit 4 blanked Unit 7, 25-0, 25-0. (MLSA)