The third round of action in the highly anticipated 2026 ABAVA Business League drew to a celebratory close on Saturday, October 24, at the YMCA Sports Complex, with three distinct 2–0 match wins for the University of the West Indies (UWI), Sandals Resorts, and Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB) across a thrilling evening triple-header. The Saturday fixtures capped off a dynamic week of competition that had already delivered two tightly contested three-set clashes on Wednesday and a pair of no-nonsense straight-set triumphs on Thursday, with none of the final day’s matches requiring a deciding third set to determine the winners.
The first matchup of the evening saw UWI face off against 77 Bus Service, opening with a rare tournament ruling when the transport-focused team arrived late to the venue, resulting in an official first-set forfeit recorded as a 25–0 victory for UWI — a score that reflected the league’s punctuality rules rather than in-play points earned. When official on-court play commenced in the second set, 77 Bus Service mounted a fierce, evenly matched challenge, but UWI’s steady coordination allowed them to edge out a 25–21 set win, locking in their 2–0 overall victory. The fixture served as a clear reminder for all competing teams of the critical role of timeliness in tournament play, as well as the value of capitalizing on unexpected competitive advantages.
The second contest pitted hospitality brand Sandals against Zamine Shipping, with the resort team notching a 25–21, 25–13 straight-set win. Zamine Shipping stayed neck-and-neck with their opponents through the entire first set, but Sandals’ sharp late-set adjustments secured them the opening frame and shifted full competitive pressure onto their rivals. Sandals cranked up their defensive and offensive intensity in the second set, pulling away to a dominant 25–13 finish to seal the victory, a tough outcome for Zamine, who had pushed Media to a full three-set battle the prior Wednesday before falling 2–1.
The evening’s final showdown paired ECAB and Media, two sides eager to wrap their week of competition on a high note. ECAB set a commanding pace from the first whistle, taking the opening set 25–16 to put Media on the back foot early. Media upped their game and notched a higher point total in the second frame, but ECAB’s calm, consistent execution kept them firmly in control, closing out the set 25–18 for a 2–0 win. The result extended ECAB’s strong weekly run, coming hot on the heels of their straight-set triumph over Royalton Antigua the previous Thursday, while Media, who had staged an impressive come-from-behind win against Zamine Shipping on Wednesday, could not replicate that turnaround performance in the final match of the night.
Across Week Three, the ABAVA Business League demonstrated the full breadth of competitive volleyball, from Media’s dramatic comeback against Zamine Shipping and the razor-thin 24–22 deciding set that secured APUA’s win over Nate Burton Photography on Wednesday, to Thursday’s dominant straight-set wins for Sandals over 77 Bus Service and ECAB over Royalton Antigua, before Saturday’s trio of uncomplicated 2–0 finishes. The mix of nail-biting momentum shifts, underdog surprises, and polished dominant performances has kept fan engagement high as the league moves forward, with ABAVA organizers calling on volleyball enthusiasts, participating corporate teams, and the broader local community to continue supporting the teams and the ongoing growth of regional recreational volleyball, under the league’s core motto: WORK HARD. PLAY HARDER.