ANTIPOLO CITY — ZUS Coffee finally earned its first franchise win in the Premier Volleyball League, repulsing Nxled in four sets, 19-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15, in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center here on Tuesday.
The Thunderbelles’ victory ended a 20-game losing streak dating back to the 2024 AFC when the franchise was still called Strong Group Athletics.
They endured winless campaigns in the 2024 AFC and the Reinforced Conference before finally getting that long-awaited triumph.
“We’re only starting. Kahit nu’ng first conference namin, we had a few months to train. Kahit naman itong All-Filipino, kahit papano parang late additions din ‘yung mga veterans,” said ZUS Coffee head coach Jerry Yee after the two hour, one minute battle.
“‘Yung mga veterans, ang laking bagay sa amin kasi we know the tempo, we know the fight, we know the hits, pero ang ‘di namin alam is ‘yung pag-slow down, ‘yung mag-drop kung kailan kailangan mag-drop lang, ‘yung mag-place kung kailan kailangan mag-place lang. Hindi ‘yung hataw kami nang hataw. Puro kami gigil.”
(C) PVL Images
After pulling off close wins in the second and third frames, the Thunderbelles wreaked havoc in the fourth, racing to a 16-5 lead that even seven unanswered points by the Chameleons late in the game could not deny them as Gayle Pascual punched in the final three points for the win.
ZUS Coffee now holds a 1-1 record while pushing Nxled down to 0-2.
Jovelyn Gonzaga proved to be the veteran that the Thunderbelles needed by making 23 points on an efficient 20-of-30 spiking clip as well three blocks. She also tallied 12 excellent digs.
Inaugural draft first overall pick Thea Gagate, meanwhile, injected fresh power for ZUS Coffee with 16 points on 10 spikes, five blocks, and an ace, while team captain Cloanne Mondoñedo ran the show with 17 excellent sets.
ZUS Coffee looks to make it back-to-back wins on November 28 when it takes on Galeries Tower at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
(C) PVL Images
Chiara Permentilla once again led the charge for the Chameleons with 19 points while Lucille Almonte added 12 points, eight digs, and five receptions.
Nxled continues its pursuit of its first win next Tuesday against Chery Tiggo, also at the Pasig venue.
