MANILA – Bacolod Tay Tung High School placed third in the 2018 Rebisco Volleyball League National Championship after a 19-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-17, 17-15 win over Holy Rosary College on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
The Western Visayas representative settled for a bronze medal after losing to Aloha Region Juniors of Hawaii in straight sets 18-25, 18-25 earlier in the day.
Erika Deloria came up with back-to-back conversions late in the battle for third place that broke a 15-all deadlock in the fifth and deciding set as Tay Tung surpassed its fifth-place finish in the same tournament a year ago.
Joan Marie Monares was hailed as the Best Player of the bronze medal match after leading the way for Tay Tung with 10 points, on eight attacks, one block and a service ace.
After losing the first set in the battle for third place, Tay Tung waxed hot early in the second set for a 17-7 advantage. Holy Rosary rallied to within 11-17 but the Thunderbolts responded with hits from Deloria, Shane Carmona and Monares to level the set count 1-1.
Tay Tung had another strong beginning in the fourth to make up for the close loss in the third for a 16-10 edge. Holy Rosary came to within 17-21 but timely shots from Alyssa Bertolano and Kiesha Bedonia dragged the match to a fifth and deciding set.
In the fifth frame Holy Rosary got the upper hand early but Tay Tung made a run to force a 12-all score and reach the match point 14-12. Holy Rosary answered back for a 15-14 edge but committed a service error for a 15-all count.
“Overall, maganda naman ang pinakita namin dito,” said Tay Tung head coach Ian Macariola. “Malaking tulong ito para sa mga bata. Magandang exposure rin ito para pagbalik namin sa Bacolod hindi na sila takot maglaro.”
Other Tay Tung members were Katherine Shane Cortez, Rhean Hebraica Almendralejo, Dya Hanica Mejos, Kyrzten Annikha Cabasac, Aurea Claudette Alvero, Kathleen Kate Tan, and Jeanny Padilla./PN
