By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts is set to compete in the 2023 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational, which will commence this Sunday, May 7, at the San Andres Gym in Manila.

According to Thunderbolts team manager Jose Montalbo, they accepted the invitation to compete in the month-long tournament to polish the skills of his players when they faced their Manila-based school opponents.

“Facing the UAAP and NCAA juniors’ volleyball teams will be huge for the development of our team and our players, so we accepted the challenge of playing here,” Montalbo said.

He added they will be parading the same Negros Occidental secondary girls’ volleyball team which captured the championship in the just-concluded WVRAA Meet in Aklan.

“Playing in Shakey’s will also be a great tune-up for our players as we prepare for the Cluster Meet in Cebu next month, to possibly play in Palarong Pambansa once again,” he said.

Leading the team were Katherine Shaine Cortez, Alex Montoro, Dona Mae de Leon, Mary Antonette Bontia, Jothea Ramos, Joenil Ramos, Rhose Vianne Almendralejo, Jihan Chuatico, Alijah Ysulan, Ana Hermosura, Patricia Hiponia, and Camila Amor Bartolome.

Bacolod Tay Tung has been slotted in Pool B along with UAAP Season 85 juniors’ volleyball runner-up Adamson University Lady Falcons, Lyceum of the Philippines Cavite and Kings Montessori School.

The Thunderbolts are set to open their campaign against the Lady Falcons tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.

The Ian Macariola-mentored Thunderbolts will return to action against Lyceum at 12:00 noon on May 13, before completing their group stage match against Kings at 5:00 p.m. on May 20.

“Every learning experience that the team and the players will gain from this tournament will be huge in the long run,” assistant coach Roberto Calamba, Jr. said.

“We want the players to enjoy the experience and at the same time try to win each game,” he added./ASC, WDJ