BACOLOD City – St. John’s Institute Falcons stretched their reign in the Negros Occidental Private School Sports Cultural Education Association (NOPSSCEA) 10-Under girls volleyball to five years.
The Falcons notched its fifth straight tiara after beating Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts in the do-or-die finals of NOPSSCEA Season 42, 25-21, 25-16, over the weekend at the University of St. La Salle Gym here.
The Falcons, who had a twice-to-beat incentive for finishing on top, were pushed to the limit as the Thunderbolts forced a winner-take-all game with a gutsy 26-24, 17-25, 25-23 victory.
Bannering the squad are Ayanna Tiu, Bianca Ong, Macey Javelosa, Celinah Tan, Skye Villanueva and Mikaella Sy. Serving as the head coach for the Baby Falcons is Sheryl Laborte.
Prior to their championship win, the Falcons finished the elimination round with a perfect 5-0 win-loss record before they bested University of St. La Salle in the semifinals, 25-17, 25-1.
For finishing on top I the two-day tournament, St. John’s Institute’s 10-Under team are set to represent the NOPSSCEA in the regional meet, whose schedule is still to be finalized.
It is not only in girls volleyball where the Johnians capture medals as they also made their presence felt in karatedo with Parnaam Singh capturing two golds in advance kata (7-to-8 years old) and sparring.
Also capturing medals for the Catherine Pollentes-mentored crew were Jeremiah Andrew Kalaw, who notched a gold in novice kata (11-to-12 years old), and Dilshaan Singh Toor, who had a silver in secondary boys novice kata.
St. John also had one gold medal winner in the badminton event in Christopher Anglo, who ruled the secondary boys badminton singles event.
Capturing bronze medals, meanwhile, were Abigail Santero in secondary girls singles, Brian Park and Santio Rojas in elementary boys doubles, Raphaella Tan and Naiara Jalandoni in elementary girls doubles and Gabriel Ananoria and Francisco Ananoria in secondary boys doubles./PN
