By Jaime Joshua A. Frias II
Contributor
THE Kong Hua High School lady spikers erased an eight-decade title drought after ruling unscathed the 2022 Rebisco 18 and under girls, volleyball league Northern Mindanao leg, which ended yesterday at Barangay 24 covered courts in Cagayan de Oro.
KHS lady Dragons captured the regional crown after surviving a tough challenge from Valencia City in the deciding third set.
The lady Dragons stunned Valencia in the opening set with a 21-15 win, but the latter retaliated with a 21-18 victory to even the set at one-all and force the decider.
KHS finally got back their rhythm in the final set with a 15-10 decision, banking on their hard services led by Frankie Rameri and the combined attacks of the leg’s MVP Julianna Estudillo, Sheila Batobato, Nina Alforque, Shandra Baba, and Libero Shobee Manla.
The lady Dragons got also much help from their five-foot-10 middle spiker Kai Huyno, who coach Renante ‘Bobong’ Ramire referred to as the team’s secret weapon.
The lady Dragons were not new in the field when they dominated known teams with a nine-zero streak from city eliminations to the regional finals. They just improved their third-place finish in the city division in 2019 to what it is now.
It only shows also that it is not just teamwork at its best. It is also from a dedicated coach such as Ramire, who trained hard at Angelicum Learning Center to reach the Nationals during the pre-Covid era.
“That is what makes me proud sa akong husband nga si Bobong. Dedicated kaayo ug wala pa nihupas ang among pagkaatleta ug kung asa say magcoach competitive kaayo as in,” said assistant coach Dolores Labitad-Ramire, Reynante’s wife.
Completing the cast the lady Dragons were Alex San Jose, Tavee Penaflor, Iya Paclar, Maria Moreno, Audrey Rodas, Paula Ortega, and Sinamar Sanchez.
With the win, this is a major feat for the lady Dragons in volleyball as they make it to the top since its existence in 1937.
Not just that, they will represent the region at the Nationals in December this year at Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
