By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts stayed unbeaten in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (GVIL) after a 25-4, 25-7 sweep of Lyceum-Cavite Junior Lady Pirates at the San Andres Gym in Malate, Manila on Saturday, May 13.

Katherine Shaine Cortez, who was the Thunderbolts’ starting setter, became a scoring machine against the Junior Lady Pirates as the Bacolod City-based volleybelles improved to 2-0 in Pool B.

Cortez, who has committed to play for the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles for college, delivered 19 points, on 14 hits and five aces, to earn the Most Valuable Player of the Match honors.

“I was really the team’s setter but since there were opportunities to score [against Lyceum], especially from the service area, so I went for it,” the 18-year-old Cortez said.

“The coaches always give me confidence naman to score, but I am still comfortable playing as Bacolod Tay Tung’s setter,” she said.

“We are just looking forward to winning more games and gaining more experience,” she added.

Camila Amor Bartolome also made her presence felt offensively for the Thunderbolts with eight points, while Rhose Almendralejo and Dona Mae de Leon chipped in six points apiece in the win.

Thunderbolts assistant coach Emmanuel Ma said the straight set victory was a statement that even a provincial team like Bacolod Tay Tung has the tools to keep in step with the Manila-based schools.

“Nag-focus lang ‘yung mga bata kasi gusto talaga nila manalo at ipakita na kaya pala namin maglaro dito sa Shakey’s and makipagsabayan sa Manila kahit taga-probinsya kami,” Ma said.

Prior to the win over the Junior Pirates, the Thunderbolts scored a 29-27, 25-16 victory over UAAP Season 85 junior girls’ volleyball runner-up Adamson University Baby Falcons last week.

The Thunderbolts will finish their group stage schedule against Kings Montessori School on Saturday, May 20, at 5:00 p.m. at the same venue./ASC, WDJ