By ADRIAN STEWART CO

St. John’s Institute (SJI) Falcons stretched their reign in the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Education Association (NOPSSCEA) 10-under girls’ volleyball tournament to five years.

The Falcons notched their fifth straight tiara after beating Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts in the do-or-die finals of NOPSSCEA Season 42, 25-21, 25-16, over the weekend at the University of St. La Salle (USLS) Gym in Bacolod City.

The Falcons, who had a twice-to-beat incentive for finishing on top, were pushed to the limit as the Thunderbolts forced a winner-take-all game with a gutsy 26-24, 17-25, 25-23 victory.

Bannering the squad are Ayanna Tiu, Bianca Ong, Macey Javelosa, Celinah Tan, Skye Villanueva, and Mikaella Sy. Serving as the head coach for the Baby Falcons is Sheryl Laborte.

Prior to their championship win, the Falcons finished the elimination round with a perfect 5-0 win-loss record before they bested USLS in the semifinals, 25-17, 25-1.

To finish on top in the two-day tournament, SJI’s 10-under team are set to represent NOPSSCEA in the regional meet, whose schedule is still to be finalized.

It is not only in girls’ volleyball where the Johnians capture medals, as they also made their presence felt in karatedo with Parnaam Singh capturing two gold medals in advanced kata (seven to eight years old) and sparring.

Also capturing medals for the Catherine Pollentes-mentored crew were Jeremiah Andrew Kalaw, who notched a gold in novice kata (11 to 12 years old), and Dilshaan Singh Toor, who had a silver in secondary boys’ novice kata.

SJI also had one gold medal winner in the badminton event in Christopher Anglo, who ruled the secondary boys’ badminton singles event.

Meanwhile, capturing bronze medals were Abigail Santero in secondary girls’ singles, Brian Park and Santio Rojas in elementary boys’ doubles, Raphaella Tan and Naiara Jalandoni in elementary girls’ doubles and Gabriel Ananoria and Francisco Ananoria in secondary boys’ doubles./ASC, WDJ