The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA – Zus Coffee denied Chery Tiggo an instant entry to the PVL on Tour quarterfinals, completing a 19-25, 25-22, 18-25, 25-19, 15-6 come-from-behind triumph as the league made its Candon City, Ilocos Sur stop on Tuesday.
The Zus win meant Creamline has instead seized the last outright quarters spot, as it secured 10 points in total, compared to the Crossovers' nine and the Thunderbelles' seven-point output following the conclusion of their respective prelims runs.
It was a welcome development for the league's winningest club, while it was an unfortunate outcome for the Chery Tiggo side, which dropped its second straight game after starting with a three-game winning run in Pool B.
Both Zus and Chery Tiggo have a chance to enter the next round in the knockout stage, starting on Saturday.
Clo Mondoñedo steered the Zus Coffee firepower, listing a total of 36 excellent sets, while the floor defense was distributed among Alyssa Eroa (17 excellent digs), Kate Santiago (12 excellent digs), and Chai Troncoso (13 excellent receptions).
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Rookie AC Miner proved her worth once more despite being on the younger side, registering 19 points, including four blocks to lead her team in that department.
Santiago added 13 points, Chinnie Arroyo chipped in 11 markers, and Troncoso followed through with 10.
For the losing side, it was third-rounder Renee Penafiel who carried much of the Chery scoring load, tallying 19 points, mostly made on spikes, in five sets which she all played.
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Cess Robles had 18 points, Imee Hernandez had 14 points, while Ara Galang and Baby Jyne Soreno contributed 11 markers each.
After trailing two sets to one, the Thunderbelles forced another frame after Miner fired one off-the-block and Crossovers gifting a point after a miscommunication.
The Thunderbelles had a blazing 9-3 start in the decider, dictating the tone of the rest of the match.