BACOLOD Tay Tung High School earned the bronze medal after surviving Holy Rosary College, 19-25, 25-17, 24-26, 25-17, 17-15, in the Rebisco Volleyball League National Championship Girls 18 and Under on Friday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Licking the wounds of their 19-25, 18-25 defeat to Aloha Region Juniors team earlier in the knockout semifinals, the Bacolod-based Spikers will bring home a bronze medal that shines like gold for their precious experience as they fought back from a 1-2 set deficit before turning back Holy Rosary College in a five-set thriller.
Bacolod Tay Tung never wavered even it went down to a 1-2 set deficit and needed to erase a 14-15 match point disadvantage to Holy Rosary in the fifth setcas Erika Jin Deloria provided the two winning-hits to seal the decent third place finish.
Even they failed to make it to the Finals, Bacolod Tay Tung head coach Ian Macariola is happy to surpass their fifth-place finish last year with a bronze that shines like gold for his players.
“Ngayon masaya ako kasi last year fifth place lang kami ngayon nakaangat kami, nakathird place na kami okay na yun,” said Macariola, whose team swept five teams in Pool B before losing to the semifinals. “At saka malaking bagay na naglaro kami dito sa Rebisco National ang laking exposure sa mga players ko!kasi pagbalik namin yung weaknesses namin yun yung aayusin namin.”
Deloria unloaded 16 kills and three service aces for 19 points to lead the way for Bacolod Tay Tung. Shane Carmona delivered 17 hits. Kiesha Bedonia was also instrumental with 15 markers, while Alyssa Bertolano and Monares added 11 and 10, respectively.
Holy Rosary College had an amazing in the third set to take the 2-1 set lead as it fought its way back from a 12-16 deficit and erased the 24-23 set point advantage of Bacolod with three straight points from Red Bascon to steal the frame and move closer from winning the match only for Bacolod Tay Tung to complete an amazing comeback and had the last laugh at the bronze medal.
Bascon had 14 points for Holy Rosary College, while Aliah Marce and Caryl Quilem added 12 hits each in the loss.
Holy Rosary College, which finished the elimination round with four wins against a lone Pool B loss to Bacolod Tay Tung, also failed to capitalize from its first set win in the semis against finalist Kings’ Montessori, 25-14-, 16-25, 21-25, before settling for fourth place.
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