In a match destined for a grind-it-out finish, ZUS Coffee brewed the perfect blend just in time, outlasting Capital1 in a gripping 20-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11 decision to split its back-to-back five-setters in the PVL On Tour at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal late Sunday.
Despite coming off an energy-draining five-set loss to the Akari Chargers the night before, the Thunderbelles dug deep and found another gear, saving their best for last to eclipse the Solar Spikers and cap their taxing weekend with a morale-boosting two-hour and 13-minute win in Pool B play.
At the forefront of their decisive run was the ever-reliable Jovelyn Gonzaga, who powered three of ZUS Coffee’s first four points in the final set before taking charge again in crunch time. She hammered down two of the last three points, including an off-the-block hit that sealed the win.
Earlier, the Ilongga veteran pounced on a Capital1 overset to give ZUS a 13-10 cushion, following two clutch blocks on Shola Alvarez. A costly misfire from Alvarez, who had teamed up with Trisha Genesis and Sydney Niegos to push Capital1 ahead 2-1 in sets, sent the Thunderbelles to match point.
Niegos managed to save one with a kill, but Gonzaga delivered the finishing blow – a fitting end to a hard-earned triumph.
While Gonzaga starred in the clutch, rookie sensation AC Miner continued to impress, following up her 12-point debut against Akari with an 18-point explosion, laced with five blocks.
“I gave it my all, and we really pushed hard to extend the match to the fourth and fifth sets. But it was a team effort – everyone did their part,” said Miner, a former Ateneo standout, who showed remarkable poise despite the high-pressure setting.
“I stayed composed because the team was there for each other, even when we were trailing. Everyone just kept pushing,” she added.
Kate Santiago also delivered with 17 points in a solid four-set outing, while Chinnie Arroyo – who top-scored with 17 against Akari – chipped in nine. Fiola Ceballos and Mycah Go added eight and seven markers, respectively, with both contributing clutch hits that helped keep ZUS Coffee in control or staved off Capital1 rallies.
It was another heartbreaking result for the Solar Spikers, who looked on track to end their slump after taking the crucial third set. But they couldn't match ZUS Coffee’s intensity in the fourth frame and lost steam late in the fifth, despite four deadlocks and three lead changes.
Genesis led the Solar Spikers with 23 points, Alvarez added 22, and Niegos scored 19 – numbers that would typically be enough to secure a win. But Capital1 once again struggled to finish strong, a recurring issue that has haunted them in the tournament organized by Sports Vision.
The loss marked the Solar Spikers’ fourth straight setback.
Despite outgunning ZUS Coffee in attacks, 74-68, thanks to the firepower of Genesis, Alvarez, and Niegos, the Solar Spikers fell short in other departments. The Thunderbelles had the edge in blocks, 7-5, and took advantage of Capital1’s 30 unforced errors while giving away just 21 of their own.
ZUS Coffee playmaker Cloanne Mondonedo also outshone her counterpart, tallying 37 excellent sets to Iris Tolenada’s 32.
Earlier, Capital1 earlier banked on a strong finishing kick to take Set 1 before ZUS Coffee clawed back behind Arroyo’s late-game heroics in the next frame to level the match.
But the Solar Spikers caught the Thunderbelles off guard with a fiery start in the third, and Alvarez made sure they wouldn’t lose grip of the momentum again.
In the fourth, ZUS Coffee regained its rhythm, pulling away midway to force another Set 5.
