It will be a tough battle for Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts of Western Visayas as they try to defend their crown in the Rebisco Volleyball League National Finals slated from November 22 to 25 in Mandaluyong City.
The Negros Occidental-based squad outplayed Naga College Foundation Tigers in the finals last year to earn their ticket in the National Finals after ruling the Western Visayas qualifying leg recently.
It can also be recalled that the Thunderbolts defeated Buenavista National High School, Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion and Northwestern Visayan Colleges in their prequalifying group before ousting Central Philippine University Golden Lions in the crossover semis.
Mentored by coach Ian Macariola, the Thunderbolts then defeated fellow Bacolod City-based team, St. John’s Institute Baby Falcons, in a tightly-contested championship round to rule the qualifiers.
Steering the squad, Ann Francesca Hermosura stood tallest for the Thunderbolts as she was named MVP and 2nd Best Middle Blocker, while Rhea Mae Tomas and Jan Rose Bulak as Best Libero and Best Setter, respectively.
The Thunderbolts also occupied the Best Opposite Attacker and 1st Best Outside Hitter slots in Joenil Ann Ramos and Camila Amor Bartolome, respectively.
Aside from the Thunderbolts, two other Visayas-based volleyball teams are competing in the National Finals in University of San Jose- Recoletos of Cebu, and Linao National High School of Leyte.
The region’s best will try to retain their title against powerhouse teams from Mindanao regional titlists Sto. Niño National High School, Corpus Christi School, and Notre Dame of Dadiangas University as well as four teams from the ongoing Luzon regional leg.
“Ang ini-envision ko talaga is ayusin ang operations ng RVL hanggang sa mapalaki naming pa para mas maraming top teams (from the provinces) ang makasali,” said league commissioner Ysay Marasigan.IMT Sports
