By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
ZUS Coffee launched its title campaign in style with a come-from-behind 24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 15-7 victory over Akari in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
The Thunderbelles crawled back from a 1-2 set deficit with a tight fourth-set victory and sustained their momentum in the deciding fifth frame for their first victory despite opening-day hiccups marked by the absence of foreign players on both sides.
Organizer Sports Vision said the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) refused to endorse the International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) required for foreign imports to compete in the conference despite the timely submission of all documentation.
Still, both teams rose to the challenge, with the Thunderbelles displaying grit in the crunch.
Cloanne Mondonedo masterfully orchestrated their explosive offense, delivering 28 of the team’s 31 excellent sets and leading six players to score in double figures.
Riza Nogales, a former University of the East standout and the 25th overall pick, turned heads by pumping in 15 points highlighted by five blocks, joining forces with veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chinnie Arroyo, who chipped in 14 points apiece.
Gonzaga and Arroyo spearheaded ZUS Coffee’s attacks, combining for 23 kills.
Fiola Ceballos also shone with 13 points spiked by four aces, while Kate Santiago and AC Miner contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively.
ZUS Coffee’s victory overshadowed the 22-point explosion of CJ Soyud for Akari, with 21 coming from the attack line.
Chenie Tagaod and Fifi Sharma had 18 and 13 points, respectively, in a losing cause.
