When Western Visayas (Region 6) finally scored point number 15 in the fifth set of their finals bout against the National Capital Region (NCR), the celebration was a scenic sight to behold. Knees fell to the canvas floor, eyes flooded in tears, as the entire squad erupted in pure jubilation. 

The crowning moment of Bacolod Tay Tung High School at this year’s #PalarongPambansa was the superlative demonstration of grit, consistency, and – most crucially – their indomitable character that has enabled them to be the back-to-back queens of high school volleyball.

GRIT UNDER PRESSURE
For a second straight year, the pride of Bacolod emerged on top of the competition after prevailing over the FEU Diliman-powered National Capital Region (NCR) in a tightly contested finals that reached a fifth set, 25-15,18-25, 27-29, 25-22, 15-12. 

Bacolod Tay Tung’s bid for a title defense did not go unchallenged as an extremely determined FEU Diliman came into the second and the third set with guns blazing, putting the defending champs under serious pressure coming into the fourth.

With their backs against the wall, down 1-2 against an extremely talented FEU Diliman, the Ian Macariola-helmed squad knew that it would take a herculean effort to keep their back-to-back aspirations alive. 

“Second set kasi nag-struggle yung team. Buti nalang fourth set and fifth set nag adjust," admitted the champion coach of Bacolod Tay Tung High School in an interview with GMA RTV News.

Fortunately for the reigning high school volley queens, they had the benefit of a well-established system and a unique kind of synergy from a long-standing winning culture– Western Visayas style.  

"Minsan kasi character yung probelma ng team, buti nalang nag-adjust,” he added.

The adjustments were all worth it for the Macariola’s squad, who clawed their way back into the game by clutch-winning the fourth set, 25-22, that set the stage for a winner-take-all fifth frame.

It was in the final canto where championship poise and experience proved to be a huge difference-maker. Western Visayas turned to their winning ways, capitalizing on their familiarity with such pressure-inducing moments. 

“Sobrang happy ko sa back-to-back, maybe next year makuha natin ang three-peat,” Macariola, palpably happy for what her team was able to achieve in two straight Palaro stints, said.

Western Visayas middle blocker Dona Mae De Leon led the way for the Visayan team and was named best player of the game after registering an all-around performance with 10 blocks and five attacks.

“Ang mindset ko is focus talaga. Nag-adjust kami sa tinuro ng coaches, and yung strategy na kinailangan na i-work on inside the court,” de Leon told GMA Regional TV News after clinching the Palaro title.

“I hope ma-continue ko itong pag-lead sa teammates ko, yung discipline and respect sa coaches,” the BPG awardee added.

PREPARATIONS
Bacolod Tay Tung High School’s second straight gold is only as important as the groundwork that came before it. 

In the lead up their title defense in Cebu, their extensive preparation, in hindsight, was a prophesied indication of a triumphant run in Palaro 2024.

They earned the right to represent Western Visayas via a masterful performance against their rivals from Iloilo, 25-19, 25-12, 25-9, at the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet.

A week before the national meet, Tay Tung coach Ian Macariola already professed his confidence in his team’s near-perfect preparedness for the Palaro games. 

Based on an earlier report by GMA Regional TV News, it was noted that they had “joined collegiate volleyball leagues in Manila as part of their build up to test their mettle against much taller and more experienced teams.”

They also made sure to familiarize with the environment in Cebu by arranging a tune-up friendly against Central Visayas’ University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R), which they easily dominated, 25-16, 25-16, 25-20, 22-25.

Despite not having their key players in 2023 Palarong Pambansa Best Middle Blocker Jihan Chuatico and Best Libero Alija Ysulan, Region 6 was confident in the services of their talented pool that included outgoing team captain and UP Diliman-bound Jothea Ramos, finals best player honoree Dona Mae De Leon, and WVRAA MVP and 1st Best Open Hitter Rhose Almendralejo.

(With reports from Ian Zane T. Esparaga/GMA Regional TV News)