By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts, representing Western Visayas, completed their title-retention bid in the Rebisco Volleyball League (RVL) 18-Under 2024 National Finals.

The Thunderbolts retained the national title following a 25-16, 25-20, 25-13 straight set victory against University of Batangas in the one-game finals at Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong City on Monday night, November 25.

Rhose Vianne Almendralejo displayed a consistent performance for the Thunderbolts the entire tournament to be named Finals Most Valuable Player and 1st Best Outside Hitter.

Also making their presence felt are College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers-bound Camila Amor Bartolome, Joenil Ramos and Rhea Tomas, as well as future Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles players Dona Mae de Leon and Ana Francessca Hermosura.

Completing the Thunderbolts’ lineup are Alexa Bertolano, Jan Rose Bulak, Brianna Nikola Ang, Czarina Dosayla, Ana Ysabelle Hermosura, and Abigael Labajo.

Serving as head coach is Ian Macariola, and Rommel Tabinas as his assistant coach.

“We are happy to retain the national championship. It was not an easy campaign for us, but the players and coaches’ hard work has paid off,” Thunderbolts team manager Jose Montalbo said.

Meanwhile, other individual awardees are Jayrelle Mesa (Best Libero), Kriska Gindap (Best Opposite Spiker) and Ashley Macalinao (2nd Best Middle Blocker) of KMS; Mary Cortes (Best Setter) and Rachel Ann Tecson (2nd Best Outside Hitter) of University of San Jose-Recoletos; and Scarlet Escalante (1st Best Middle Blocker) of University of Batangas./ASC, WDJ