MARIKINA City – Western Visayas clawed back from a fifth set deficit to score a stunning 18-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-16, 18-16 victory over the National Capital Region in the finals of the 2023 Palarong Pambansa secondary girls volleyball on Friday at the Marikina Sports Center here.
After sending the match to a deciding set with a massive 25-16 fourth set victory, Western Visayas found themselves trailing at 0-6 and later at 6-10 to NCR midway in the fifth frame.
But the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts-represented WV slowly clawed its way back to tie the score at 14-all and lastly at 16-all before pulling off two crucial points to clinch the gold medal.
The Ian Macariola-mentored WV crew was led by Jihan Chuatico, graduating setter Katherine Shaine Cortez, Ana Hermosura, Alex Montoro, Dona Mae de Leon, and Jothea Ramos.
Also part of the Western Visayas team were Mary Antonette Bontia, Joenil Ramos, Rhose Vianne Almendralejo, Jihan Chuatico, Alijah Ysulan, Patricia Hiponia, and Camila Amor Bartolome.
The NCR was represented by UAAP Season 85 girls volleyball champion Nazareth School of National University Lady Bullpups, which included a WV-based player in Bacolodnon Celine Marsh.
Earlier in the day, the WV elementary girls volleyball, also represented by Bacolod Tay Tung High School, captured the elementary division crown with a 25-18, 25-16 straight set win over CARAGA team in the finals.
Arianne Alayon was named Player of the Game. She led the Roberto Calamba Jr.-mentored elementary girls Thunderbolts team in the one-game finale against the gutsy CARAGA team.
The WV volleybelles were forced to a tight game by the CARAGA team early in the first set with the score tied at 13-all before the Negrenses pulled away as they turned a slim 21-18 lead to a 25-18 set win.
The Negrenses started strong in the second frame as they established a 15-8 edge. CARAGA rallied to within 11-17 but the WV squad responded with consecutive points to secure the championship.
Other members of the squad are Samantha Cañete, Marishka Andrada, Czarina Ang, Maria Coronica, Adriana Escultura, Adriel Montalbo, Yerief Montalbo, Miley Panganiban, Jessica Soco, Sheree Uy and Mary Wongyan./PN
