By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Sunday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. – PLDT vs Akari (for bronze)
5 p.m. – ZUS Coffee vs Petro Gazz (for gold)
A youthful squad eager for a breakthrough championship collides with a seasoned team in pursuit of another crown as the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference stages its winner-take-all match on Sunday, Nov. 30, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
ZUS Coffee, riding high on a franchise-best run and repeatedly defying expectations, battles two-time Reinforced Conference champion Petro Gazz at 5 p.m. in a game no one can’t afford to make many mistakes and every point is a by-product of brilliance and grit.
The championship match is preceded by the 2 p.m. tussle between PLDT and Akari for the bronze medal.
The Thunderbelles have been drawing strength from the consistent, impressive play of Anna DeBeer, whose growing chemistry with the local cast has been pivotal to their campaign. In the semifinals, ZUS Coffee blasted On Tour and Invitational Conference champion PLDT, 25-22, 28-26, 25-22, to continue its Cinderella run.
DeBeer is not lacking with support as Chinnie Arroyo, AC Miner, Thea Gagate and veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga have consistently providing additional firepower while versatile setter Cloanne Mondonedo has continued to impress with clever set plays that resulted in so many beautiful combinations.
Alyssa Eroa is also taking charge of the floor defense.
ZUS Coffee is determined to win it all. After all, they have been sending shock-waves throughout the conference, already eclipsing their previous best finish of sixth place in the last Invitational Conference since joining the league last year.
They are also banking on their 25-22, 25-21, 25-20 victory over the Angels in their preliminary meeting last Oct. 28.
But this title duel is entirely a different thing, and Petro Gazz hopes to use its championship experience to its advantage.
Winners of the 2019 and 2022 Reinforced Conference editions, the Angels seek to return to familiar territory and re-establish themselves in this import-flavored tournament.
After the tough semis duel against Akari where they prevailed, 25-19, 25-17, 15-25, 22-25, 15-13, Petro Gazz is even more determined to finally win it all.
In the last Reinforced Conference, the Angels came in sixth, losing to fancied Creamline in the quarterfinals.
Apart from regaining lost glory, Brooke Van Sickle is out make their family reunion – having her parents, head coach Gary Van Sickle, and assistant coach Lisa Van Sickle – extra sweet and memorable.
Joining Brooke in beefing the Angels’ frontline are Lindsey Vander Weide and MJ Phillips, with veteran Myla Pablo also slowly regaining her old form.
