ZUS Coffee's Jovelyn Gonzaga during their game against Capital1 in the PVL on Tour 2025, July 6, 2025 at the Ynares Center in Montalban. PVL Media
MANILA -- ZUS Coffee scored its first win of the PVL on Tour in gutsy fashion, outlasting the Capital1 Solar Spikers in five sets, Sunday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.
Veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga stepped up in crunch time to lead the Thunderbelles to a 20-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11 triumph in a match that lasted nearly two hours and 30 minutes.
The result gave ZUS Coffee a 1-1 record after having lost to Akari in their first match on Saturday, also in five sets. Meanwhile, the Solar Spikers -- who are playing without top overall pick Bella Belen -- fell to 0-4 in the competition.
From a 10-10 deadlock in the decider, the Thunderbelles won five of the final six rallies, with Fiola Ceballos sparking the run with a big hit and a clutch ace. Gonzaga then scored off an overpassed ball for a 13-10 lead, before Capital1's Shola Alvarez went wide on a crosscourt hit to put ZUS Coffee at match point.
Sydney Niegos saved a match point for Capital1 but Gonzaga would not be denied, crushing a hit off the Solar Spikers to claim the winner.
The veteran finished with 14 points while rookie AC Miner top-scored for ZUS Coffee with 18 points on 13 kills and five blocks. Kate Santiago added 17 points, as the Thunderbelles also benefited from Capital1's 30 unforced errors.
Squandered in the defeat was a 23-point performance from Trisha Genesis, as well as Alvarez's 22-point outing.