By Adrian Stewart Co
Cherry Tiggo Thunderbolts is set to compete in the VolleyPrep Volleyball Club Championship 2021 from December 4 to 7 at Naga College Foundation Volleyball Center in Naga City.
This will be the first league to be joined by the volleybelles from Bacolod Tay Tung High School since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic hampered the tournaments in the country.
The squad is to be led by captain Katherine Shaine Cortez along with fellow veterans Gwen Bañas, Sophy Cagalawan, Aurea Alvero, Amber Lily Biong, Jermaine Joniega, and Alijah Ysulan.
Also in the squad are Jihan Chuatico, Jothea Ramos, Alexie Marie Montoro, Jan Ysabelle Chua, Ana Hermosura, Dona Mae de Leon, Patricia Hiponia, and Antheia Galicia.
Serving as Thunderbolts’ head coach is Ian Mondia Macariola with Roberto Calamba Jr. as his assistant, while JGM Dreams Foundation’s Jose Montalbo is the team manager.
“It has been a while since the players have competed in an actual volleyball tournament so it is interesting to see how we will perform there,” said Calamba Jr.
“We were tempering our expectations in Naga City but we knew that the players will be giving their all each in every game to win,” he added. “They were very excited to get back in the court.”
Calamba added that the squad will first figure in a series of tune up matches in Baguio City by late November before going to Naga City for the three-day event.
Other competing teams are NCF Tigers of Naga City, Kings Montessori School Lady Vikings, California Precision Sports, Parañaque Lady Green Berets, ABCAMP, Tacloban City Red Stallions, and Fourth District Nueva Ecija.
The VolleyPrep Volleyball Club Championship 2021 is a Naga City local government unit-sanctioned volleyball tournament that will be held in bubble-format./ASC, WDJ