SAN CARLOS City – Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts clinched the girls’ Under-14 and Under-12 titles in the San Carlos City Invitational Age-Group Volleyball Festival on Monday at the Barangay 4 Covered Court here.
Led by Most Valuable Player awardee Kimberly Chelmel Rubin, the Thunderbolts’ U-14 squad cruised to a come-from-behind 16-25 25-18 15-10 beating of Talisay in the one-game finale.
Also making their presence felt were Rubin’s fellow national U-18 girls volleyball team mainstays Rhose Viane Almendralejo, Jan Rose Bulak, Lana Choloe Madrigal and Caitlin Espinosa.
Completing the team of coach Ralph Savellano were Ana Ysabelle Hermosura, Cheska Rizelle Penol, Carla Dosayla, Brianna Ang, Janiyah Lagulao and Mary Antonnete Bontia.
It was an amazing feat for the Thunderbolts U-14 volleyball squad after sweeping all their elimination round matches while only losing a set in the entire tournament.
The Thunderbolts’ Under-12 squad, meanwhile, rode on the exploits of Alexa Bertolano as the defeated San Carlos City in the finals, 25-14, 25-10, to capture the U-12 title.
Bertolano, younger sister of University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons hitter Alyssa Bertolano, was a consistent presence the entire tournament to be hailed as Most Valuable Player.
Also part of the U-12 team were Jamyl Montalbo, Edz Escultura, Ariane Alayon, Shannen Bañas, Alaica Lachica, Yz Montalbo, Sam Cañete, Marishka Andrada, Jessica Soco, Shania Coronica and Athena Magbanua.
Just like the Thunderbolts’ U-14 crew, the Anthony Blasi-mentored U-12 squad finished the three-day tournament without a loss and without dropping a set.
“Overall, the performance of our U-12 and U-14 teams was good but there are still some adjustments that has to be made by our coaches,” said team manager Jose Montalbo./PN
