The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA (UPDATED) – Zus Coffee completed a reverse sweep of Choco Mucho, 22-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-10, to clinch a PVL on Tour quarterfinal berth on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
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The Thunderbelles now have back-to-back quarterfinal appearances, previously securing its breakthrough playoff spot in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The quarterfinals picture is now complete, as Zus Coffee booked a date with PLDT in the next round.
Riding on the momentum of equalizing at 2-2 after falling down two sets to none, the Thunderbelles, powered by veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga, had a great start in the deciding frame, cruising to a 4-1 lead.
They kept the Flying Titans at bay in the whole Set 5, as the Jerry Yee-coached squad unleashed three unanswered points from the 11-7 mark to reach set point, capped by an AC Miner rejection at the net.
Choco Mucho would have saved three match points, but Gonzaga was there to finish the job, firing an off-speed hit that caught the Flying Titans off-guard to complete the comeback, ending the match in two hours and twenty three minutes.
This marked Zus Coffee's fourth five-set triumph in the tournament, keeping their mastery of the five-setters.
"Always proud 'pag nag-iimprove, masaya tayo, proud tayo, happy tayo, and hopefully magtuluy-tuloy lang," expressed coach Yee after the game.
Chinnie Arroyo led the Zus Coffee firepower with 21 points dealt mostly on attacks, while Gonzaga contributed 16 points and seven excellent digs.
Miner added 14 points, while Kate Santiago and Fiola Ceballos chipped in 10 markers each.
Clo Mondoñedo orchestrated the Zus Coffee plays with 22 excellent sets, while libero Alyssa Eroa, doing what she does best, led the floor defense with 19 excellent digs.
For the Flying Titans' part, it was Isa Molde who top-scored for her team, registering a game-high 27 points, but was down the drain as Choco Mucho suffered an early exit in the preseason tilt.