BACOLOD City — St. John’s Institute Bacolod ended Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s long reign in NOPSSCEA girls’ volleyball, toppling the Thunderbolts in four sets, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 25-16, to capture the secondary championship on Sunday at the University of St. La Salle Gym here.
The triumph gave the SJI Falcons their first NOPSSCEA secondary girls’ volleyball crown since 2014 while dethroning a Tay Tung squad that had dominated the competition since winning its first championship in 2016.
SJI drew first blood with a 25-21 victory in the opening set before Tay Tung responded with a 25-22 win in the second frame to level the championship match.
The Falcons, however, quickly regained their composure and seized control in the third set, 25-18.
With the championship within reach, SJI refused to give the Thunderbolts another opening, dominating the fourth set, 25-16, to complete the title-clinching victory.
Caera Celis and Marteena Ferrer spearheaded the Falcons’ championship charge, delivering key contributions in SJI’s breakthrough triumph against one of the region’s established volleyball powers.
Also part of the championship squad were Mishaella Geraldizo, Lexi Tiu, Kara Feril, Edrianna Escultura, Edz Escultura, Rhianna Yee, Athena Magbanua, Gabrielle Yanson, Samantha Young, Therese Tad-y, Marita Rondez, Shania Coronica, Rianne Empedrado, Kristel Mirasol and Sophie Pamplona.
The championship marked a major breakthrough for SJI Bacolod’s volleyball program, ending a 12-year wait for another NOPSSCEA secondary girls’ crown.
For Tay Tung, the loss brought an end to a dominant championship run that began when the Thunderbolts captured their first NOPSSCEA title in 2016./PN
