MANILA – Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts ruled the Rebisco Volleyball League National Finals after a 25-17, 25-23, 25-15 sweep of Naga College Foundation Tigers in the finals on Saturday night at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Jihan Isabelle Chuatico spearheaded the Western Visayas representatives to be named as the Finals Most Valuable Player and 1st Best Middle Blocker, while her teammate Patricia Grace Hiponia was awarded as Best Setter.
Both teams traded leads early in the first set until the Thunderbolts managed to create separation from the Tigers for a 24-16. The Tigers saved a set point, but the Thunderbolts closed the set on a drop hit by Rhose Almendralejo.
In the second set, the game was tight with both teams knotted at 23-apiece before the Thunderbolts scored back-to-back points via a Tigers’ error and an attack from Dona Mae De Leon.
The Thunderbolts went for the kill in the third set as they jumped to an 18-11 lead and later at 23-14 via a De Leon block. An error by the Tigers followed by a drop ball from Almendralejo secured the championship for the Bacolodnons.
It was the Thunderbolts’ first championship in the Rebisco Volleyball League National Finals, months after the same school captured the Palarong Pambansa secondary girls volleyball gold.
“Nadaan namin sa tiyaga, talagang pinaghandaan namin itong National Finals kasi we fell short during our past three participations here,” said Thunderbolts interim coach Roberto Calamba Jr.
“Credit to the players for giving their all, kahit na halos everyday ang game namin dito hindi bumaba ‘yung energy nila hanggang dulo and we are happy to have represented the Western Visayas well here in Rebisco,” he added.
The Thunderbolts went undefeated in their group stage games against Sto. Nino National High School (Davao del Norte), Corpus Christi School (Cagayan de Oro), De La Salle Lipa (Batangas), and Notre Dame of Dadiangas University (General Santos City).
Other members of the Thunderbolts team are Camila Amor Bartolome, Jothea Ramos, Alexia Montoro, Alijah Ysulan, Joenil Ramos, Ana Francessca Hermosura, Rhea Tomas, and Abigail Labajo./PN
