By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negros Occidental renewed its mastery over Iloilo with a dominant 25-19, 25-12, 25-9 triumph in the finals of the WVRAA Meet secondary girls’ volleyball tournament at the Montalbo Gym in Bacolod City yesterday.

Rhose Viane Almendralejo anchored the Negros Occidental-represented Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s offense in the entire qualification tournament to be hailed as Most Valuable Player and 1st Best Open Hitter.

Ana Francessca Hermosura was awarded 2nd Best Open Hitter, Jan Rose Bulak as Best Setter, Dona Mae de Leon as 1st Best Middle Blocker, and Ian Macariola as Best Coach.

Also part of the Negros team are Jothea Mae Ramos, Joenil Anne Ramos, Camila Amor Bartolome, Czarina Marcella Dosayla, Mary Antonette Bontia, Brianna Nikola Ang, Ana Ysabelle Hermosura, and Rhea Mae Tomas.

Other individual awardees for the secondary division are Iloilo’s Zacchea Maganto (Best Opposite Spiker) and Jessele Abrot (Best Libero), and Daniella Ignacio of Aklan (2nd Best Middle Blocker).

With the victory, the Negrense secondary girls’ volleyball team earned the right to defend their championship in the 2024 Palarong Pambansa slated to be held this July in Cebu City.

The Negros Occidental elementary girls’ volleyball team, this time represented by St. John’s Institute-Bacolod Baby Falcons, will also represent the WVRAA in the Palaro after topping the competition.

The Negrense squad of head coach Sheryl Laborte scored a come-from-behind 23-25, 25-18, 25-18 victory against Guimaras in the gold medal match.

Meanwhile, the Negros Occidental secondary boys’ 3×3 basketball team also emerged as champion after a 21-15 victory against Aklan in the finals at the Bacolod Tay Tung High School Gym.

The Negrense cagers are led by Paul Adrian Barcelona, Jameer Angelo Gapusan, Seth Guarino, and Matthew Orbista.

The 3×3 squad is being handled by Renato “Atoy” Callora, Jr./ASC, WDJ