Pakmen win three national titles.

This article was originally published in The Mississauga News on June 26th, 2013.

Written by Iain Colpitts

QUEBEC — The Mississauga Pakmen have reason to celebrate after winning three Canadian volleyball championships last month.

Pakmen’s under-15 boys’ Black team won the Canada East Open in Sherbrooke, Quebec, the under-15 boys’ Gold team won bronze at the same tournament before winning gold at the Canada West Open in Regina and the under-16 boys’ team won the Canada East Open in Sherbrooke.

Both U15 boys’ teams met in a semi-final in Sherbrooke. The Pakmen Black team went on to beat Aurora’s Storm Lightning in the gold medal match while the Gold team defeated Woodstock’s Oxford Crush for bronze.

“I feel the boys achieved more than just winning a gold medal,” said Pakmen Black coach Amar Balkaran. “Not only did they learn how to play the sport at a very high level, they learned how to respect other teams without underestimating them, treat teammates with respect and to always give their 100 per cent.”

A few weeks later, the Gold team went undefeated at the Canada West Open and defeated Calgary’s Canucks White team for gold.

Meanwhile, the under-16 Pakmen defended their national title and only lost one set in the tournament. They went on to beat the Niagara Rapids in the championship match.

“We had faced Niagara several times throughout the season and were prepared to counter the strong play of (the) Rapids,” said under-16 coach Mike Albert. “Maintaining fundamentals is a critical component needed in order to win championships.”

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