Concocting a potent mix of firepower and net defense, ZUS Coffee not only validated its blistering start in Pool B – it also announced its arrival as a bona fide threat in the PVL Reinforced Conference.
Shaking off an opening-set letdown, the Thunderbelles stormed back to overpower the defending champion Creamline Cool Smashers, 27-29, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22, Thursday night at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan, moving a step closer to clinching a Top 3 berth in their pool.
Behind another explosive performance from import Anna DeBeer, the fast-rising franchise outplayed the Cool Smashers in nearly every department, proving that their unbeaten start is no work of a chance but rather a sign of things to come.
After erupting for 37 and 18 points in ZUS Coffee’s first two matches, DeBeer once again caught fire – torching Creamline’s defense for another 37-point explosion. The American hitter was unstoppable from both wings, delivering a string of hits late in the pivotal third set to crush the Cool Smashers’ rally before blasting one more missile that sealed the deal and gave the team a 2-1 set lead.
Creamline seized the early momentum in the fourth set, but ZUS Coffee clawed back from a four-point deficit to reclaim the lead, 16-15, behind another three-point flurry from DeBeer.
However, the Cool Smashers wouldn’t be denied, responding with a spirited run of their own, punctuated by Mich Gamit’s emphatic block on DeBeer’s backrow attack to push Creamline ahead, 18-16.
But ZUS Coffee battled back with the poise of a seasoned campaigner, mounting a strong 9–4 finishing run. Miner provided steady support for DeBeer, capping the surge with the final two points – a decisive putaway off a Creamline overpass and a quick strike perfectly set up from a solid reception and play execution.
“It was really tough, but it was a total team effort all the way,” said DeBeer, who also delivered 15 excellent receptions.
Still, she was quick to share the credit with her teammates.
“We did a good job at the service line, and our blocking made a big difference. Staying balanced was huge for us,” DeBeer said, also acknowledging Mondonedo’s stellar play.
“Cloanne did an amazing job running our offense, setting up different players at the right moments,” she added.
DeBeer’s offensive brilliance flourished through ZUS Coffee’s collective composure and commitment to balance. Anchored by the imposing frontline trio of Miner, Riza Nogales and Thea Gagate – and orchestrated by Mondonedo’s deft playmaking – the Thunderbelles controlled the net, 10-9, disrupting Creamline’s offensive rhythm and neutralizing its vaunted wing hitters.
ZUS Coffee also edged Creamline in attacks, 62–61.
But what ultimately hastened the Cool Smashers’ downfall was their inconsistency. The crowd favorites gave away 25 points on unforced errors while gaining only 14 off the Thunderbelles’ miscues.
ZUS Coffee’s one-hour, 57-minute victory – its third straight – was not just another notch in the win column. It was a statement.
Against the league’s gold standard – with 10 championships under its belt, the Thunderbelles showcased traits that define title contenders: composure under fire, depth across positions and an unflinching will to respond when tested.
They actually dictated the tempo for most of the match and could’ve closed it out in straight sets had they not faltered in the endgame of the opening frame, where Creamline’s championship poise showed in the clutch. But instead of crumbling, ZUS Coffee regrouped with remarkable resolve.
Replicating their dominant start, the Thunderbelles fired on all cylinders in Set 2, riding DeBeer’s offense and the steady blocking of Miner and Gagate to level the match. From there, they imposed their rhythm, blending aggression with discipline—two hallmarks of a team beginning to understand how to win big matches.
By the time Set 3 swung into another back-and-forth duel, the young squad didn’t blink. They shattered the sixth deadlock of the set with a telling 4-0 run, never looking back and riding their momentum into the fourth, where they closed out with the calmness of a veteran group.
Miner finished with 13 points, while Nogales added seven markers and Jovelyn Gonzaga chipped in six points. Mondonedo turned in an impressive 25-excellent set performance, upstaging counter Kyle Negrito, who finished with 14.
Coco Schwan scored 18 points, while Alyssa Valdez put in a 13-point showing. Tots Carlos and Pangs Panaga each had 11 markers, while Michele Gumabao finished with 10 points for Creamline, which dropped to 2-2.
Now sitting atop Pool B with a 3-0 card, ZUS Coffee has virtually secured a spot in the next round. But more than their standing, it’s the manner of their wins that’s turning heads across the league.
Against Creamline, ZUS Coffee didn’t just win a match. The Thunderbelles passed a test of character. And in doing so, they might have just unveiled the next serious contender for the PVL crown.
