MANILA – Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts of Western Visayas aims to defend their crown in the Rebisco Volleyball League National Finals slated from November 22 to 25 in Mandaluyong City.
The Thunderbolts, which defeated Naga College Foundation Tigers in the finals last year, earned their slot in the National Finals after ruling the Western Visayas qualifying leg recently.
The Bacolod City-based squad defeated Buenavista National High School, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion and Northwestern Visayan Colleges in their prequalifying group before ousting Central Philippine University Golden Lions in the crossover semis.
The Ian Macariola-mentored Thunderbolts then defeated fellow Bacolod City-based team, St. John’s Institute Baby Falcons, in a tightly-contested championship round to rule the qualifiers.
Ann Francesca Hermosura stood tallest for the Thunderbolts as she was named MVP and 2nd Best Middle Blocker, while Rhea Mae Tomas and Jan Rose Bulak as Best Libero and Best Setter, respectively.
The Thunderbolts also occupied the Best Opposite Attacker and 1st Best Outside Hitter slots in Joenil Ann Ramos and Camila Amor Bartolome, respectively.
Aside from the Thunderbolts, two other Visayas-based volleyball teams are competing in the National Finals in University of San Jose- Recoletos of Cebu, and Linao National High School of Leyte.
Also competing in the National Finals are Mindanao regional titlists Sto. Niño National High School, Corpus Christi School, and Notre Dame of Dadiangas University as well as four teams from the ongoing Luzon regional leg.
“Ang ine-envision ko talaga is ayusin ang operiations ng RVL hanggang sa mapalaki naming pa para mas maraming top teams (from the provinces) ang makasali,” said league commissioner Ysay Marasigan.
“And we can also see kung ano pa ‘yung kailangan i-improve for the lower levels sa Visayas and Mindanao para mapataas pa ‘yung level nila para maging kapantay ng NCR,” he added./PN
