With backs against the wall and the early sets slipping away, ZUS Coffee found itself in familiar territory — down, but never out.
After a rocky start, the Thunderbelles clawed their way back from two sets down to complete a thrilling reverse sweep of Choco Mucho, 18-25, 20-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-11, and punch their ticket to the quarterfinals of the 2025 PVL On Tour at the Philsports Arena.
For seasoned opposite spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga, it was a comeback fueled not by panic, but by a conscious return to joy.
“Credits sa performance ng Choco Mucho, kasi hindi talaga namin sila nahuli nung first and second sets,” admitted the 33-year-old veteran. “Siguro tumatak na lang sa isip sa amin na ilaro na lang namin ‘yung laro namin, kasi very stiff kami noong first and second set.”
“Hindi kami maka-execute ng plan na kailangan namin i-execute,” she added.
The Thunderbelles, plagued by hesitation and disconnect early on, looked like a shadow of the cohesive squad that had grinded through the pool stage with poise. But when the third set began, something shifted — the game plan simplified, shoulders relaxed, and ZUS Coffee began to resemble the team they were in training.
And with that, the tide turned.
“Kaya noong third set, inenjoy na lang namin — kung paano tayo sa training, kung paano tayo mag tune-up game. Doon natin enjoyin… Kaya parang the later part, nag-eenjoy na lang talaga kami,” Gonzaga said.
That shift in mindset allowed the Thunderbelles to unleash the chemistry they had been cultivating behind the scenes. ZUS played loose, fearless volleyball the rest of the way, as if flipping a switch. Every hit landed with intention, every cover had purpose, and every cheer felt earned.
Gonzaga finished with 16 points built on 13 attacks — another all-out performance from the pride of Jordan, Guimaras — and led by example in what was the team’s fourth five-set win in five games this conference.
For a squad still forging its identity, this win was more than just another notch in the standings. It was a message: ZUS Coffee knows how to battle.
“Maganda siyang learning experience sa team, actually,” Gonzaga said. “And siguro, ‘di na namin iniisip ‘yung mga early sets. Nag-focus, nag-review po talaga kami na magba-back to zero.”
“Tapos, so ‘yun—nasanay na rin siguro… Hindi tayo puwedeng masanay. Nakakapagod, pero ‘yun, grateful kasi panalo rin.”
The quarterfinal berth marks ZUS Coffee’s second straight playoff appearance — a sign of tangible progress for the fledgling team. After debuting in the PVL just last season, the Thunderbelles have gone from upstarts to certified contenders, leaning on veteran leadership and youthful energy to drive their ascent.
Gonzaga, a multi-time national team captain, sees their rise as a product of the work put in behind the scenes.
“Sobra kaming grateful kasi sa pangalawang conference na nandito din ako,” she said. “And ilan na tayo nakasali? Tatlo? Nakadalawang quarterfinals appearance na ‘yung team so far — na bumubunga ‘yung hirap namin sa training.”
Beyond the numbers and wins, it’s the bond within the squad that Gonzaga credits most for their resiliency.
“And grateful talaga din ako sa relationship ng team,” she said. “Siguro nag-reflect ‘yung laro namin kasi eh, kung gaano kami ka-solid sa loob at sa labas.”
