By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts emerged as champions in the women’s division of the DSB Open Indoor Volleyball Tournament 2024 in Negros Occidental’s Don Salvador Benedicto town on Sunday night, August 18.

Jan Rose Bulak made her presence felt for the Thunderbolts as they scored a 25-19, 25-14 straight set victory over University of St. La Salle-Bacolod in the one-game championship.

Bulak was later named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Setter, Dona de Leon and Camila Bartolome as Best Middle Blockers, Ana Francesca Hermosura as Best Outside Hitter, and Rhea Tomas as Best Libero.

Also part of the Thunderbolts team are Rhose Viane Almendralejo, Czarina Marcella Dosayla, Ana Ysabelle Hermosura, Brianna Nikola Ang, Abigael Jirah Labajo, Joenil Anne Ramos, and Alexa Bertolano.

Serving as head coach for the Thunderbolts is Ian Macariola, with Rommel Taniñas as his assistant coach, while Jose Montalbo is the team manager.

It was a perfect campaign for the Thunderbolts as they swept their group stage games last August 10 and 11, before they prevailed over their playoff opponents over the weekend.

On the other hand, the Tarag Bacolod squad captured the men’s division championship after prevailing over the VIP-San Carlos City team during the one-game gold medal match.

According to the Don Salvador Benedicto municipal government, the tournament allowed them to showcase their potential as a premier sports tourism destination in Negros Occidental.

It added that the DSB Open Invitational Volleyball Tournament also showed the skills and talents of the individuals who took part in the two-weekend competition.

The tournament was sponsored by Don Salvador Benedicto Vice Mayor Nehemiah dela Cruz, in partnership with the Office of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, headed by Lislyn Indico./ASC, WDJ