AGUSAN DEL SUR — Armed with a veteran core and unfinished business from last year’s campaign, the Negros Island Region (NIR) girls volleyball teams begin their bid for Palarong Pambansa glory today, with the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts determined to turn a previous runner-up finish into a championship breakthrough.
Bannered by several holdovers from the squad that finished second in the 2025 edition while still competing under the Western Visayas banner, the NIR secondary girls team enters the 2026 Palarong Pambansa as one of the contenders in the prestigious school-based volleyball tournament.
The Thunderbolts will once again be coached by Roemel Taniñas and will be led by Brianna Ang, Rhose Almendralejo, Jan Rose Bulak, Alexa Bertolano, Jheanine Mayang, Cristina Gale, Zelver Banguiao, Danielle Saloria, Memielle Letran, Ana Hermosura, Luchi Vivero, Shannen Banas, and Juvie David.
With most of the roster intact from last season, NIR is expected to contend against the country’s top school-based volleyball programs in the annual multi-sport event.
Meanwhile, the NIR elementary girls volleyball team will also parade Bacolod Tay Tung standouts under coaches Biboy Calamba, Ma. Cent Trixy Navarro, and Rhea Joy Tupas.
The elementary roster is composed of Mhegan Ordaniel, Samantha Valenciano, Chloe Depalubos, Janselle Peromingan, Xyriz Cañete, Dubhe Medina, and Jeydi Panisales.
Completing the lineup are Andrea Lorainne Lim, Andrea Zedd Chua, Ainel Parba, Ylajah Laureign Maestrecampo, Ayanna Alexis Tiu, Cielo Palabrica, Micayla Gonzales, and Sofie Miralles.
The Palarong Pambansa gathers the country’s top young athletes from various regions, serving as a premier stage for grassroots talent and a pathway for future national team standouts./PN
