Tournament Summary:

Not even the threat of approaching Hurricane Debbie could keep Miami-based Raider Water Polo from coming to Atlanta to defend its "three-peat" of its PowerBar Cup championships and a perfect 19-0 record over the history of the event.

"I know it sounds cruel," mused PowerBar Cup organizer Stuart Sheldon, "but Hurricane Debbie had me thinking that the Raider unbeaten streak might actually end at 19 games. Not exactly how I wanted to see a new champion's name go up in lights, but it was a real possibility." By Thursday night Hurricane Debbie looked more like her sibling of snack cake fame and Raider head coach Felix Mercado jokingly said "Enough about Hurricane Debbie! Tell your teams to batten down the hatches, buy some water and get ready for Hurricane Raider."

With eight clubs sending ten teams including PowerBar Cup rookies Houston Obsolete Polo (HOPs) and Mules WPC (Army Alumni) there were several surprises in Saturday round robin play. It was quickly apparent that the defending champion's bracket was the less challenging of the two groups. In the other pool, the young and physical NOVA, older and very experienced HOPS and fast-swimming, balanced host Dynamo A all made their case to advance to Sunday's championship game. After Dynamo A rallied from a late three-goal deficit to tie HOPs all eyes turned to the nightcap match-up between NOVA and Dynamo A to see who would face Raider A in the championship battle. NOVA held the lead for the entire game, but the outcome was in question until halfway through the third when NOVA scored to open a three goal margin at 5-2. Dynamo A tried to use its speed to force tempo but NOVA used its better ball-handling and size advantage to grind out a 10-3 and advance to face Raider A on Sunday.

"The brackets didn't quite work out the way they were projected" explained Dynamo player/coach Tommy Kaye after the tournament "but you can't complain too loudly when it's your own tournament, can you? We hosted yet another quality tournament and the PowerBar Cup is probably the most prestigious annual tournament in the Southeast in just four short years. I think we've done well."

"When we heard that Raider was 23-0 in four PowerBar Cups we were plenty motivated" explained NOVA player/coach Peter Clifford. "Plus the champion gets twice as many free PowerBars as the runner-up, so we wanted to win in a big way." The stage was set for another classic PowerBar Cup championship game featuring swimming speed, ball handling and physical but fair play.

It was a white knuckle ride for the entire first half as the two teams traded their best shots for over 30 minutes. Raider A notched the go-ahead goal with just :17 seconds remaining in the second quarter and half-time came with the score 3-2.

Players, coaches, referees, spectators, lifeguards and anyone involved with the Raider A vs. NOVA game can tell you: the pivotable moment of the game came with 1:05 left in the third quarter with Raider up 4-3 when NOVA two meter man Trevor Rodin committed an obviously aggressive (but not violent) foul against a Raider player and was ejected for the game with substitution. Raider converted the power play to end the quarter up 5-3 and then scored on the first possession of the fourth quarter to go up 6-3 and it seemed as though you could hear the buses cranking up in the parking lot. Even missing their starting two meter man (Rodin), NOVA put their heads down and worked hard, earning four power plays in the final 4:10 of the game. NOVA's Bill Blackburn converted the third such possession to bring NOVA within one (5-6) with just :47 seconds left. If you blinked you missed it, and NOVA was man up again with only seven ticks on the game clock. NOVA sharpshooter Peter Clifford blasted away at Raider goalie Felix Mercado with just two seconds left but the shot hit the low post and Raider escaped with the championship for a second year in a row.

"I've said it before: Raider loves coming to Atlanta, Dynamo is a great host and the PowerBars are yummy!" grinned Mercado as his team packed up their cases of PowerBars for the flight home. "The play is always challenging, and we're already committed to going for number five in 2001."

For the fourth August in a row Raider flew out of Atlanta the undefeated champions of the PowerBar Cup, their streak in tact. Raleigh CAPS goalie Jeff Doyle was unable to grab his fourth consecutive PowerBar Cup most valuable player award, however, as NOVA goalie Tony Paster took this year's MVP honors.

Game Schedule and Results:

Final Standings:

1. Raider A
2. NOVA
3. HOPS
4. Raleigh CAPS
5. Dynamo A
6. Mules
7. Dynamo B
8. Atlanta Rainbow Trout
9. Charlotte Sharks
10. Raider B

Tournament MVP:

• Tony Paster (G), NOVA

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