NUMANCIA, Aklan – Negros Occidental secondary and elementary team swept the girls volleyball championship in the 2023 Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet on Sunday morning.
The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts-reinforced squad remained the queens in the secondary girls volleyball after beating Iloilo in five tight sets in the finals at the Laguimbanua Elementary School here.
Pushed to a fifth set and were just ahead by one late in the decider, Negros Occidental showed steadiness in the endgame against Iloilo with a 4-2 scoring run to seal the regional championship.
On their way to the finals, Negros Occidental defeated Capiz (25-15, 25-13) and Antique (25-11, 25-8) in the group stage before taking down Aklan (28-26, 25-5, 25-13) in the semifinals round.
Members of the team were Katherine Shaine Cortez, Alex Montoro, Dona Mae de Leon, Mary Antonette Bontia, Jothea Ramos, Joenil Ramos. Rhose Vianne Almendralejo, Jihan Chuatico, Alijah Ysulan, Ana Hermosura, Patricia Hiponia and Camila Amor Bartolome.
Negros Occidental head coach Ian Macariola said they were happy to retain the WVRAA Meet title despite being pushed to the limit by the Central Philippine University-represented Iloilo crew.
“We are glad to still be able to get out on top,” a relieved Macariola said. “Iloilo has given us a tough challenge but good thing our players showed resiliency in the endgame to pulloff this victory.”
Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s 12-and-Under team, representing Negros Occidental, also bagged the elementary girls championship after beating Iloilo in the finals, 25-12, 25-15, 25-20, at the Aklan Catholic College in Kalibo.
The Roberto Calamba Jr.-mentored Negros elementary team kicked off the WVRAA Meet with victories over Antique (25-16, 25-6) and Capiz (25-5, 25-5) before beating Guimaras (25-18, 23-25, 25-9) in the semifinals.
Among the members of Negros elementary team were Samantha Cañete, Arianne Alayon, Marishka Andrada, Czarina Ang, Maria Coronica, Adriana Escultura, Adriel Montalbo, Yerief Montalbo, Miley Panganiban, Jessica Soco, Sheree Uy and Mary Wongyan./PN
