The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles. PVL Media Bureau
RODRIGUEZ, Rizal — Zus Coffee overcame Akari as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) went all-Filipino in its opening day of the 2025 Reinforced Conference, Tuesday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
The Thunderbelles hacked out a 24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 15-7 decision to escape in a five-set epic battle to gain a 1-0 win-loss card in Pool B.
Notably, both teams played without their foreign guest players — same with the upcoming game between Capital1 and Choco Mucho — to kickstart the what was supposed to be an import-laden conference.
READ: PNVF 'withheld' ITCs required for imports to play in Reinforced Conference, says PVL
This, as the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has yet to endorse the International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) of the imports, barring them from seeing action yet in the PVL.
Despite this, several Thunderbelles rose to the occasion, joined by AC Miner, who fueled their drive late in Set 4, just when Akari was clawing its way back to the game.
The Jerry Yee-coached team squandered a 22-17 lead, as the Chargers eventually tied at 22-apiece, but Miner found the quick kills that put them on up in the extended frame, 26-24.
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Zus Coffee rode on a fiery 9-0 run in the decider to clinch the win, highlighted by Fiola Ceballos' service aces to close out the match that lasted two hours and 32 minutes.
Middle blocker and pride of University of the East Riza Nogales headlined a balanced scoring attack from the Thunderbelles with 15 points, Jov Gonzaga and Chinnie Arroyo blasted with 14 points each, Ceballos had 13 markers, Kate Santiago had 1 1 markers, as Miner also breached twin-digit scoring with 10.
Setter Clo Mondoneno orchestrated that offense with 28 excellent sets, and libero Alyssa Eroa held the defensive fort with 22 excellent digs and 21 excellent receptions.
PVL Press Corps Most Improved Player awardee Eli Soyud had 22 points to pace the Chargers, while spikers Ivy Lacsina and Faith Nisperos were sidelined during the game.
Zus Coffee steps on to the PVL taraflex again versus Chery Tiggo on October 11, while Akari squares off with Creamline in a Reinforced Finals rematch at the same game date.