PVL PC POW Clo Mondonedo sparks ZUS Coffee's stunning playoff run

Cloanne Mondoñedo delivered when it mattered most, leading ZUS Coffee to its first-ever Premier Volleyball League quarterfinals appearance.

The heady playmaker didn’t waste the Thunderbelles’ last crack at a playoffs seat as she displayed her brilliance in the exciting play-in tournament to catch the last bus ride into the next round of the 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference.

“Lahat naman talaga gusto makapasok sa play-ins eh and also kumuha ako ng motivation sa mga teammates ko kasi nakikita kong gusto din nila,” she said. “So ako, ginagawa ko talaga ‘yung best ko na maayos ko ‘yung trabaho ko para sa team.”

The former NCAA MVP out of College of Saint Benilde orchestrated ZUS Coffee’s balanced attack with 24 excellent sets on top of two points in a crucial 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12 win over Cignal to start its play-in campaign last Tuesday at Philsports Arena.

Mondoñedo followed it up with 24 excellent sets and six points in beating Capital1, 25-22, 25-17, 18-25, 25-17, Thursday evening to formalize the Thunderbelles’ quarters entry.

“Super happy and proud ako kasi lahat naman naghirap para makarating dito and also, lahat talaga nag-contribute,” she said.

Sweeping the play-in to make the Thunderbelles’ big leap from cellar dwellers to a playoffs team, Mondoñedo emerged as the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week, presented by Pilipinas Live, for the period of March 11 to 15.

The 24-year-old setter bested teammate Chai Troncoso, Choco Mucho's Sisi Rondina, Akari's Ivy Lacsina, Chery Tiggo's Ara Galang, and Nxled's Chiara Permentilla for the weekly nod in the competition, which is streamed live and on-demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.pvl.ph.

The ZUS Coffee captain was the first NCAA product to win the Player of the Week deliberated by reporters from print and online publications covering the league.

With the Thunderbelles facing the No. 2 Petro Gazz Angels in a best-of-three quarterfinals starting on Tuesday, Mondoñedo is out to make the most of their first playoff appearance with a bigger goal ahead.

“For me, laban talaga kasi ito ‘yung gusto namin eh. Kaya nga kami nandito kasi para lumaban and ipakita sa lahat ‘yung skills namin,” Mondonedo said.