By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts stamped their class in the 2023 Palarong Panlalawigan after bagging the secondary boys’ 3×3 and elementary boys’ 5×5 titles recently at the Po Hang Gymnasium of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

The Tay Tung Thunderbolts 3×3 basketball team, representing Cluster 4, clinched the crown after defeating the La Carlota squad (Cluster 2) in the tightly-contested championship game.

Leading the Thunderbolts 3×3 team were Dylan Benedict Despi, Joshua Dignadice, Marvin delos Santos, and John Vincent Hugo. The head coach of the team is Renato Callora, Jr.

Despi, who also suited up for the Dumaguete City team during the NBTC National Finals recently in Manila City, was being recruited by several Manila-based high schools and colleges following his strong showing in the previous tournaments.

“Madaming kumakausap na schools kay Dylan, some from UAAP and some from NCAA, but we are weighing all options kung saan mas makakaganda sa career ni Dylan,” his father, former Tay Tung coach Yong Despi, said.

“Siyempre, bukod sa basketball, isa din sa consideration namin is ‘yung magandang education, ‘yung talagang mag-aaral ‘yung bata at hindi puro basketball lang since there is still life outside basketball,” he added.

The Tay Tung Thunderbolts 5×5 basketball team (Cluster 4) also clinched the championship in the elementary boys’ indoor basketball after beating Silay (Cluster 2) in the finals.

Bannering the Thunderbolts elementary team were Miguel Delada, Magz Magbanua, Nicus Calma, Acster Panisales, Tristan Randall, Zachiry Cuasing, Ghian Tan, and Kiko Alcoran.

Also part of the roster were JJ Verba, Jared Bunol, Kevin Babor, and James Ramos. The elementary squad is being mentored by Ryan Nabor.

To win their respective divisions, the Thunderbolts secondary boys’ 3×3 team and elementary boys’ 5×5 team will next play in the Regional Meet slated later this month in Aklan./ASC, WDJ