By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts maintained their status as the best secondary girls volleyball team in Western Visayas after topping the Victor C. Plagata Cup Season XVI at the Bingawan Civic Center in Iloilo province’s Bingawan town on Sunday night, August 13.

The squad, which was composed mostly of players from the Western Visayas team that recently ruled Palarong Pambansa 2023, defeated Central Philippine University (CPU) Golden Lions in the one-game finals, 25-16, 25-20, 25-23.

Rhose Almendralejo emerged as the most consistent player for the Thunderbolts, to be named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, while Jothea Ramos clinched the Best Opposite Spiker award.

Dona Mae de Leon and Brianna Ang clinched the 1st and 2nd Best Middle Blocker citations, respectively, while Thunderbolts’ new setter Jan Rose Bulak bagged the Best Setter award.

Also part of the Thunderbolts squad are Camila Amor Bartolome, Joenil Ramos, Ana Hermosura, Mary Antonette Bontia, Abigael Labajo, Rhea Mae Tomas, and Carla Dosayla.

The Thunderbolts emerged on top in Bracket B as they defeated Tapaz National High School, Passi National High School, Talisay City, and Santa Clarita International School Primes.

On the other hand, the Golden Lions also swept their four Bracket A matches against Hua Siong College of Iloilo Red Phoenix, Pontevedra, Bingawan National High School, and Murcia OBCA.

On their way to the championship round, the Ian Macariola-mentored Thunderbolts prevailed over the Red Phoenix, while the Golden Lions dominated the Primes in straight sets.

The Red Phoenix salvaged a bronze medal finish in the three-day tournament after a 25-22, 17-25, 25-21 victory over the Primes behind the solid game of Shauntell Pido.

In the men’s open category, CPU Golden Lions bagged the crown with a 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 triumph over Iloilo Doctors College, while Taft St. edged Bingawan for the third place trophy./ASC, WDJ