BACOLOD City – Chery Tiggo Thunderbolts emerged as champions in the one-day Bacolod Negros Legend Volleyball tournament that ended at dawn Sunday at the Gonzaga Gym here.
The Thunderbolts were pushed to the limit before pulling off a 25-14 16-25 15-10 victory over the Living Stones International School in the championship match.
Katherine Shaine Cortez displayed her all-around game for the Thunderbolts as she was hailed as the tournament Most Valuable Player and Best Setter.
Also getting cited for the Bacolod Tay Tung High School-reinforced Thunderbolts were Alex Montoro as 2nd Best Spiker and Gwen Toledo Bañas as the Best Libero.
Two players from Living Stones also got individual citations in Frenche Premaylo as the 1st Best Spiker and Kiesha Bedonia as the 2nd Best Middle Blocker.
It was a perfect campaign for the Roberto Calamba Jr.-mentored Thunderbolts as they defeated all their opponents in the group stage before disposing University of St. La Salle in the semis.
Completing the Thunderbolts squad were Jan Ysabelle Chua, Annikha Cabasac, Anthea Nishant Galicia, Amber Lily Biong, Patricia Grace Hiponia, Elphie Cahilig, Alijah Ysulan, Sophie Cagalawan and Jermaine Joniega.
Meanwhile, the national U-17 girls volleyball team, playing under the name Toby’s Bacolod Thunderbolts, settled for fourth place in their first-ever tournament together.
The national U-17 team started strong by winning all their group matches before bowing to college players-reinforced Living Stones in the semis and USLS in battle-for-third.
Three of its players, however, got individual awards in Rhose Almendralejo as Best Server, Jothea Mae Ramos as Best Opposite Spiker and Dona Mae de Leon as 1st Best Middle Blocker.
“This was just their first tournament as a unit and they are still learning among each other,” said team manager Jose Montalbo. “But I like the progress of the team. We will still improve.”/PN
