By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Unless it will be postponed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) scare, Bacolod City’s Chery Tiggo Thunderbolts is set to compete in two Iloilo City-based tournaments this month.
Thunderbolts team manager Jose Montalbo said they are participating in the Volleyball Club of Iloilo-2022 Dinagyang Volleyball Cup slated from January 19 to 23 and in Iloilo 18-under tournament from January 27 to 30.
The Chery Tiggo Thunderbolts, which placed fifth in the VolleyPrep Volleyball Club Championship 2021 in Naga, Camarines Sur last December, is to be led by team captain Katherine Shaine Cortez, Gwen Bañas, Aurea Alvero and Amber Lily Biong.
Completing the Chery Tiggo are Jihan Chuatico, Jothea Ramos, Alexie Marie Montoro, Jan Ysabelle Chua, Ana Hermosura, Dona Mae de Leon, Patricia Hiponia, and Antheia Galicia.
“We are delighted to be invited to play in Iloilo City. The players were very much excited since they do not have much competition in the past two years due to pandemic,” Montalbo said.
“We are just hoping that the two tournaments will not be hampered by the recent rise of COVID-19 cases and the threat of Omicron variant, but, of course, we will understand if the tournament is to be postponed,” he added.
Aside from Chery Tiggo, Montalbo said that his aspirants team—the 1st JGM Dreams Foundation-NEFVEI U-15 Volleyball Invitational Tournament champions Toby’s Sports Thunderbolts—will also be joining in the Iloilo 18-under tournament.
Leading the Toby’s Sports team are JGM tournament MVP awardee Kimberly Chelmei Ibanez Rubin, Cheska Peñol, Joenil Ramos, Rhose Viane Almendralejo, and Caitlin Espinosa.
Also members of the Toby’s Sports squad are Lana Madrigal, Jan Rose Bulak, Carla Dosayla, Ryanne Panisales, Elphie Cahilig, Alexa Bertolano, Antonette Bontia, Cassandra Salveron, and KC Delos Reyes.
“They were our aspirants players, most of them were under 15 years old, and competing in an 18 and under tournament is a great test for them and their maturity as a player,” Montalbo said./ASC, WDJ