LAOAG CITY – The National University-Nazareth School of the National Capital Region beat Bacolod Tay Tung High School, 25-12, 25-14, 25-8, Friday night to capture the 65th Palarong Pambansa secondary girls’ volleyball title and deny Western Visayas a three-peat at the jampacked PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.

Opposite hitter Samantha Chloey Cantada finished with 13 points off 11 attacks and two blocks while Harlene Serneche chipped in 12 points on eight attacks, three aces and a block for the Lady Bullpups, who lost to the Thunderbolts in the final of the 2023 Marikina Palaro.

Denesse Daylisan had eight points while Ysabella Patricia Cruz and Rihanna Cris Navarro contributed five points each.

Rhose Viane Almendralejo led Bacolod Tay Tung High School with six points off five attacks and one ace.

In the battle for the bronze medal, Calabarzon Region defeated Eastern Visayas Region, 25-22, 25-19, 25-18.

Meanwhile, NCR’s Titus Rafael Sia and Sophia Rose Garra earned the Most Outstanding Swimmer honors for their seven gold medals each at the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium pool in Laoag City.

The 12-year-old Sia set new records in the elementary boys’ 100m backstroke and 400m freestyle events.

The incoming Grade 7 student of Xavier School in San Juan City also triumphed in the 50m backstroke, 100m and 200m freestyle, 4×50 medley relay (with Reighlem Scziyo Salon, Findlay Jake Mackenzie, and Joshua Erik Chua), and 4x50m freestyle relay (with Mackenzie, Chua and Yohan Quincy Hopilos).

Garra, of De La Salle Araneta University in Malabon, dominated the elementary girls’ 200m Individual Medley and 100m backstroke (new meet records); 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle; 4x50m medley relay (with Adrianne Reese Tacuboy, Kaeley Vianna Cabalida and Ceanna Gabrielle Mitra); and 4x50m freestyle relay (with Tacuboy, Mitra and Elyzah Shayne Son).

The others standouts were Davao Region’s Bhenz Rudolf Owen Semilla (secondary boys’ dancesport) and Mar Aviel Carredo (secondary boys’ chess) with six golds; and NCR’s Jeralyn Rodriguez (secondary girls’ athletics) and Arman Hernandez Jr. (elementary boys’ artistic gymnastics), Central Visayas’ Naina Dominique Tagle (secondary girls; archery) and Central Luzon’s Sheena Jillianne Ty (elementary girls; rhythmic gymnastics) with five golds each.

With four golds apiece were NCR’s Pi Durden Forward Wangkay (secondary boys’ athletics), King Jay Pernia (secondary swimming) and Zayanna Ysabel Enriquez (secondary girls’ artistic gymnastics); Davao Region’s Reynard Engcoy and Marian Joyce Lingatong (elementary dance sport); Ilocos Region’s Anton Dominick Della (secondary boys’ swimming); Caraga’s Queen Fairy Rose Rante (secondary boys’ chess) and Airielle Ashley Lape (elementary girls’ arnis); and Northern Mindanao’s Shane Mark Monreal (elementary boys’ arnis).

As of 7:30 p.m., NCR has collected 111 golds, 68 silvers and 45 bronzes in the overall medal tally of the annual event organized by the Department of Education.

Western Visayas was at No. 2 with 43 golds, 50 silvers and 52 bronzes, while Calabarzon slid to third with 40 golds, 65 silvers and 62 bronzes.

Davao Region was fourth with 40 golds, 25 silvers and 34 bronzes, and Northern Mindanao Region stayed in fifth with 31 golds, 23 silvers and 42 bronzes.

Central Luzon ranked sixth with 28 golds, 25 silvers and 34 bronzes, followed by Caraga (19-15-37), Cordillera Administrative Region (16-13-9), Soccsksargen (15-24-35), Ilocos Region (13-16-24), Eastern Visayas Region (12-15-19), Bicol Region (7-8-29), National Sports Academy (6-2-6), Cagayan Valley Region (4-9-18), Mimaropa Region (3-7-5), Zamboanga Peninsula (2-16-14), and Bangsamoro Region (1-2-5). (PNA)