By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts standouts Jihan Isabelle Chuatico and Alexia Marie Montoro have committed to join the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles women’s volleyball team.

Chuatico and Montoro formalized their move to the team of head coach Sergio Veloso ahead of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament scheduled earlier next year.

Chuatico and Montoro were part of the Thunderbolts’ numerous championship runs, including the 2023 Palarong Pambansa and the 2024 Rebisco Volleyball League (RVL) national finals.

In the RVL tournament earlier this year, Chuatico was awarded as the finals’ Most Valuable Player and Best Middle Blocker, while Montoro took home the Best Outside Hitter citation.

Chuatico and Montoro will join fellow former Thunderbolt and Bacolodnon Katherine Shaine Cortez, who was recruited to join the Blue Eagles squad prior to UAAP Season 86.

Aside from Chuatico and Montoro, the Blue Eagles also managed to recruit two Ilongga volleybelles in Fiona Marie Arroyo and Robielle Silla, both former members of the Central Philippine University Golden Lions.

The Blue Eagles, in their first year under the guidance of Veloso, came off a fifth place finish (5-9 win-loss slate) during the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament earlier this year./ASC, WDJ