Newton High School of Kathmandu claimed the boys’ title of the first Pabson U-18 National Volleyball Championships on Monday with a straight sets victory over Bungtang Volleyball Team of Nuwakot.

In the final match at the Dhorpatan Sports Training Centre, Newton claimed a 25-20, 25-17, 25-17 win to lift the title. The title earned Newton a cash purse of Rs 100,000 while the runners-up Bungtang took Rs 60,000. Losing semi-finalists Three Star Academy of Kathmandu and Little Buddha Academy of Kanchanpur got Rs 35,000 apiece.

Ajaya Sunar of Newton was named the player of the tournament and he pocketed Rs 5,000. Aashish Magar (spiker) and Jahil Tamang (defender) of Bungtang, Chham Kumar Kunwar (setter), Hari Gharti Magar (blocker) and Om Prasad Ghimire (server) of Newton were other winners.

The tournament, organised by School Volleyball Commission of Nepal Volleyball Association, was participated in by 39 teams—16 in girls and 23 in boys’ categories. On Sunday, New Diamond Academy of Kathmandu beat Everest Boarding School of Rupandehi to win girls’ title.

The tournament also serves as players’ selection for the U-18 national teams that will represent Nepal in future international tournaments. A total of 24 players will be picked up in the preliminary phase before they are kept for the closed camp training for further selection.