BACOLOD City – Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts extended its championship reign to four years by topping the 39th NOPSSCEA girls volleyball yesterday at the University of St. La Salle Gym here.
Armed with a twice-to-beat incentive heading into the championship round, the Thunderbolts needed just one game to stave off the St. Johns Institute Lady Falcons, 25-12, 25-17, 25-19.
Led by veterans Alyssa Bertolano, Joan Marie Monares and Shane Carmona, the Thunderbolts jumped to an early double-digit lead in each set before staving off the Lady Falcons’ comeback attempt to finish the match in straight sets.
Jose Montalbo, Tay Tung’s (team manager), said that aside from solidifying their NOPSSCEA dominance, the tournament was also a good preparation for the Rebisco National Finals next week in Metro Manila.
“NOPSSCEA is one of the prestigious tournaments here in Negros. It is like the UAAP in Manila. So the girls really prepared hard for this since the start of the year,” Montalbo told Panay News.
He added: “This also helped us to prepare the players and also build chemistry among themselves as we represent Western Visayas in the Rebisco National Finals next week in Pasig City,” he added.
Also part of the Ian Macariola-mentored team were Kiesha Bedonia, Katherine Cortez, Rhean Almendralejo, Aurea Alvero, Gwen Banas, Annika Cabasac, Sophie Cagalawan, Nicolei Galvan, Jermaine Joniega, Julianne Monares, Kathleen Tan, and Alijah Ysulan.
Meanwhile, St. John’s Institute Baby Falcons needed just one game to clinch the U-12 category tiara with a victory over the Trinity Christian School./PN
