By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s secondary girls’ volleyball team showed their wares anew as they ruled the 1st Roberto C. Necor Invitational Women’s Open Volleyball Tournament over the weekend.

The Thunderbolts were hailed as champions in the one-day tournament after defeating Pontevedra Fire Antz, 25-7, 25-11, in the finals game held at the Barbaza Municipal Covered Gym in Antique.

Jothea Mae Ramos spearheaded the attack for the Thunderbolts to be hailed as the Most Valuable Player along with graduating player Katherine Shaine Cortez, who was hailed as the best setter.

Also receiving citations for Bacolod Tay Tung were Ilongga Ana Francessca Hermosura as best attacker, Dona Mae de Leon as best middle blocker and Patricia Hiponia as best server.

The Thunderbolts had a perfect campaign in the tournament as they beat Pontevedra (30-15), Antique Selection (30-15), Arabika-Antique (30-10), and Iloilo Doctors College (30-17) in the preliminary matches to finish on top.

Other members of the Thunderbolts were Alex Montoro, Jihan Chuatico, Mary Antonette Bontia, Camila Amor Bartolome, Joenil Anne Ramos, Alijah Marie Ysulan, and Rhose Viane Almendralejo.

Serving as head coach for the Thunderbolts is Ian Macariola, with Roberto Calamba Jr., former University of the Philippines mentor Godfrey Okumu, and Emmanuel Ma as his assistants.

According to Thunderbolts team manager Jose Montalbo, they are using the tournament as part of their preparation for the regional meet after ruling the NOPSSCEA secondary girls tournament recently.

“We are delighted with the result of this tournament. We are using this to form chemistry among the players, since these are most likely the players that we will send to the regional meet,” Montalbo said.

“Aside from the regional meet, we are also scheduled to participate in a tournament in Manila in two months’ time, so we are assessing if we can send the same players there,” he added./ASC, WDJ