ZUS Coffee concocted a near-perfect brew to stun powerhouse Cignal, pulling off a pulsating 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12 victory to close in on the last quarterfinal berth in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference Play-In at the Philsports Arena in Pasig late Tuesday.
In a match that showcased their grit and growing cohesion, the Thunderbelles leaned on former HD Spiker Chai Troncoso, who delivered back-to-back clutch hits in the deciding set to cap off a dramatic comeback that gave them a clear shot at the last quarterfinal berth.
Troncoso, facing her former team, rose to the occasion when it mattered most. She hammered a powerful crosscourt hit to put ZUS Coffee at match point, 14-12, then unleashed another searing blast that ricocheted off a Cignal defender and into the stands, sealing the Thunderbelles' biggest win of the conference.
The two-hour, 28-minute grind mirrored Galeries Tower’s stunning upset of Cignal in the qualifying round – an improbable win that earned the unheralded Highrisers a coveted quarterfinal berth.
As ZUS Coffee players swarmed the court in celebration, Troncoso was seen teary-eyed, overwhelmed with emotions after helping the team keep their improbable quarterfinal bid alive.
"This victory means so much to us. We just kept fighting and drawing strength from each other. We knew we had to win this to keep our chances alive," said Chinnie Arroyo in Filipino, whose explosive 20-point performance earned her the Best Player of the Game honors.
Troncoso delivered a breakout performance, leading all scorers with 21 points, while Thea Gagate and Michelle Gamit contributed 16 and 13 points, respectively. Jovelyn Gonzaga, bringing a wealth of experience, chipped in eight points while providing the veteran leadership and poise that proved crucial in the Thunderbelles’ victory.
The setback dropped Cignal to a 1-1 record, leaving them needing a Capital1 win over ZUS Coffee to force a three-way tie. Should that scenario materialize, the last quarterfinal spot will be decided based on total points earned, set ratio, and set wins, adding another layer of tension to the upcoming Capital1-ZUS Coffee showdown.
But for now, the Thunderbelles relish a victory that could define their conference journey – one built on perseverance, belief, and the will to defy the odds.
For Cignal, the loss was a heartbreaking setback. The HD Spikers had fought back from an eight-point deficit in Set 4 to force a decider, seemingly regaining momentum just in time. They even surged to an early 6-3 lead in the fifth set, appearing poised to seize the last quarterfinal slot.
But when the pressure peaked, Cignal faltered, unable to withstand ZUS Coffee’s relentless comeback as the Thunderbelles closed out the match with a statement finish.
Vanie Gandler spearheaded Cignal’s spirited fightback in the fourth set, unleashing a flurry of powerful hits to keep the HD Spikers in contention. She finished with a game-high 23 points, while Ishie Lalongisip and Jackie Acuña provided solid offensive support with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Roselyn Doria-Aquino, Jovelyn Fernandez, and Gel Cayuna also made their presence felt, combining for 23 points in a collective effort that, however, fell short in the end.
ZUS Coffee’s campaign, once marred by a string of losses, has now turned into a captivating story of resilience and redemption. From a team on the verge of elimination, the Thunderbelles now stand on the cusp of a breakthrough quarterfinal berth – needing only to beat also-ran Capital1 Solar Spikers on Thursday to complete their dramatic turnaround.
The Thunderbelles had to dig deep to survive the high-pressure fifth set, especially after squandering a massive lead in the fourth that allowed Cignal to force a decider. Worse, ZUS Coffee also fell behind by three in the fifth set, seemingly on the brink of collapse.
But just when the HD Spikers thought they had weathered the Thunderbelles’ storm, ZUS Coffee engineered a spirited comeback behind Gamit and Troncoso, aided by a costly Cignal rotation error that enabled the Thunderbelles to snatch a 7-6 advantage.
Cignal managed to forge two more deadlocks, but Arroyo and Troncoso kept pushing, while Gagate and Gonzaga provided defensive muscle. ZUS Coffee eventually seized a 12-9 lead and never looked back.
In the closing moments, when composure and experience usually spelled the difference, the young Thunderbelles – guided by Troncoso’s veteran smarts – displayed poise beyond their years. Troncoso’s consecutive clutch hits ultimately delivered the knockout punch, giving ZUS Coffee the all-important victory.
