By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts cruised to a dominant 25-16, 25-18 victory over the University of Perpetual Help Junior Lady Altas in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League at the Adamson University Gym 2 on Sunday, June 2.

Rhose Viane Almendralejo anchored the Thunderbolts’ offense anew to be named Player of the Game as they wrapped up their Pool C campaign on top with a 3-0 win-loss slate.

Unlike in their games against the University of Santo Tomas Junior Golden Tigresses and Kings’ Montessori School, the Thunderbolts were efficient with their attacks against the Junior Lady Altas as they needed just two sets to finish the job.

“We really worked on our miscues the past few days,” Thunderbolts team manager Jose Montalbo said.

“Even in the days that we do not have games here in Shakey’s, we had tuned-up games with some teams here in Manila. We really want to fine tune our mistakes and our errors because we know that our opponents will be tougher in the playoffs round,” he said.

“We want to improve on our bronze medal finish last year,” he added.

The Junior Lady Altas, the reigning NCAA juniors girls volleyball tournament champion, dropped to fourth and last place in Pool C with a 0-2 win-loss record.

The Thunderbolts, which will represent Western Visayas in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa in Cebu City, will face the no. 2 ranked team from Pool B in the crossover quarterfinals on Tuesday, June 4.

Meanwhile, the Far Eastern University-Diliman Lady Baby Tamaraws prevailed over the Arellano University Junior Lady Chiefs, 25-20, 25-20, to stay perfect in Pool B with a 2-0 record.

“Isa lang naman ‘yung sinasabi namin. Kailangan lang maglaro sila ng maayos. Kailangan lang magkaroon sila ng gel sa loob ng court,” Lady Baby Tamaraws coach Rjay del Rosario said.

“Kailangan lang mag-usap usap sila para madali ‘yung trabaho, and ‘yung galaw nila maging pulido. Kailangan lang sila i-push talaga,” the Ilonggo volleyball coach added./ASC, WDJ