By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts emerged as champions in the Gametime 16-Under Girls Volleyball League held at the Court A Municipal Gymnasium in Iloilo province’s Maasin town recently.

The Ian Mondia Macariola-mentored Thunderbolts squad captured the crown after defeating St. John’s Institute-Bacolod Falcons in straight sets in the gold medal match.

Rhose Viane Almendralejo was named as the Most Valuable Player and Best Spiker, Camila Amor Bartolome as Best Middle Blocker and Joenil Anne Ramos as Best Opposite Spiker.

Meanwhile, St. John’s Institute-Bacolod’s Rain Navarro received the Best Setter and Best Server citations, while Mary Dwayne Tipay of Team NVC-Aklan was given the Best Libero award.

Also part of the Thunderbolts squad are Brianna Ang, Alexa Bertolano, Jan Rose Bulak, Ana Hermosura, Mary Antonette Bontia, Carla Dosayla, Abigael Labajo, Edz Escultura, and Rhea Mae Tomas.

On their way to the championship round, the Thunderbolts prevailed over Team NVC-Aklan, while the St. John’s Institute defeated the Central Philippine University Golden Lions in the semis.

On the other hand, Team NVC-Aklan surprised the tournament as they clinched the bronze medal following an upset victory over the Golden Lions in the battle for third place game.

Gametime Sports founder Rodolfo Go Villaruz said the two-day volleyball tournament aims to give the emerging volleyball players from Western Visayas an avenue to showcase their skills.

“The league aims to showcase the talents of Western Visayas, and will also define our future,” Villaruz said.

“Remember, this is 16-under division and some of the players are 14 years old and are all qualified to play for the next school year,” he said.

“We at the Gametime Sports will always serve as an instrument for our volleyball players here in Region 6, to display their talents in a fair playing venue,” he added./ASC, WDJ