By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts swept their opponents to rule the 2024 Rebisco 18-and-Under Volleyball League Western Visayas qualifiers in Iloilo province’s Pototan town over the weekend.

Led by Most Valuable Player and 2nd Best Outside Hitter awardee Ana Francesca Hermosura, the Thunderbolts reclaimed the championship with a 25-18, 25-17 victory over St. John’s Institute-Bacolod in the finals.

Hermosura’s teammates Camila Amor Bartolome (1st Best Middle Blocker), Joenil Anne Ramos (Best Opposite Hitter), Jan Rose Bulak (Best Setter), and Rhea Mae Tomas (Best Libero) were also cited.

Also part of the Bacolod Tay Tung roster are Rhose Viane Almendralejo, Brianna Nikola Ang, Alexa Bertolano, Dona Mae de Leon, Czarina Dosayla, Ana Ysabelle Hermosura, and Abigael Labajo.

Serving as head coach for the Thunderbolts is Ian Macariola, with Rommel Tabinas as his assistant coach, and Jose Montalbo as the squad’s manager.

For ruling the regional qualifiers, the Thunderbolts once again earned the right to represent Western Visayas in the Rebisco Volleyball League National Finals slated for November 22 at Gameville Park.

“We are happy to be back as champions here in the Rebisco regional qualifiers,” Montalbo said.

“The players showed their heart and displayed their determination to win in this tournament,” he said.

“It is also nice to earn the right to represent our province, Western Visayas, once again in the national. We will now try our best to defend our National Finals championship,” he added.

Meanwhile, also gaining individual citations are Caera Celis (1st Best Outside Hitter) and Eileen Yanson (2nd Best Middle Blocker) of St. John’s Institute./ASC, WDJ