Rebisco Volleyball League: Holy Rosary College defeats Bacolod Tay Tung

HRC’s tactical change does wonders in win over BTT

by rick olivares

In a battle of erstwhile undefeated squads, the tussle between the hometown team, Holy Rosary College, and Bacolod Tay Tung High School, proved to be a titanic spectacle. In front of a roaring crowd at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex in bustling Laguna, HRC flipped the script en route to a massive 16-25, 25-20, 25-20 win.

In the first set, HRC’s normally top floor coverage was in shambles as Tay Tung’s setter, Marianne Sotomil, mixed up their attack with Joan Marie Monares leading the way with three points while Joan Doguna and Shane Carmona both added two each.

HRC’s top gun, Trisha Mae Genesis, was held to one point.

Come the second set, Holy Rosary College head coach Lerma Giron made two changes that altered the outcome of the match. Giron sent in her two guest players from the University of the East – middle blockers Ysabel Jimenez and Kecelyn Galdones.

The effect was immediate and overpowering as HRC jumped to a 10-2 lead. Jimenez and Galdones did a lot of damage from their serves that had normally steady and under control Tay Tung reeling and leaving head coach Evelyn Aguillon no choice but to dig deep into her bench. She sent Sotomil and Carmona to the bench and tried back up setter Rhean Almendralejo and Marixi Maligmat.

Making matters worse for Tay Tung, Genesis found her groove and she pounded the Bacolod squad with 20 points from the last two sets en route to a game high of 21.

After HRC equalized at 25-20, Tay Tung started strong in the third set, 9-4, but after a Galdones quick, the home side led, 12-11, and never looked back.

Said Giron after the match, “We changed our rotation. Kailangan ko ng blocker kasi yung Bacolod may running attack, may quick. And that proved to be the game changer for us because not only are the guest players tall but meron silang depensa at opensa.”

“Is there pressure on us as the home team? Meron. Kaso, yung kabilang team meron din kasi undefeated din sila going into the match. So they too want to win.”

Regarding the phenomenal performance of Genesis who has dazzled all tournament long, “This is her stage,” pointed out Giron. “She is graduating and hopefully, someone will get her.”