From a lottery squad last season, the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles have completed their rise as legitimate title contenders after earning their first-ever Premier Volleyball League Finals appearance on Thursday.
Up against a seasoned PLDT squad that had won back-to-back titles in the preseason, ZUS Coffee announced its arrival on the big stage with a rousing 25-22, 28-26, 25-22 sweep in the semifinals of the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“‘De kasi, this is the job eh, ‘no? I-improve ‘yung team, buoin mabuti, palakasin, gawing solid. So masaya, satisfying, pero malayo pa eh,” said Thunderbelles head coach Jerry Yee after their Finals-clinching win.
“Marami pa kaming gagawin. Ito ‘yung journey namin. Masaya kami ngayon, pero we still have to work — mahaba-haba pa,” he added.
(C) PVL Images
American import Anna DeBeer powered ZUS Coffee’s historic breakthrough. She fired a game-high 30 points — 29 coming from attacks — along with the team’s lone ace and eight excellent receptions.
Chinnie Arroyo supported with 14 points, all from attacks, as the Thunderbelles had to grind out back-to-back wins in the final two sets to secure their spot in the championship round.
Alyssa Eroa also delivered in the one-hour, 35-minute encounter, tallying 23 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions. AC Miner contributed eight points, while Jovelyn Gonzaga chipped in seven points and 13 excellent digs.
“Ayun, everybody contributed — si Anna most especially. Pero ‘yung locals natin nag-step up, si Alyssa most especially. So we’re very happy na ganun nga, pero ‘di pa tapos, so one more game,” said Yee.
ZUS Coffee will take on Petro Gazz in the gold medal match on Sunday at 5:00 PM, still at the Big Dome.
(C) PVL Images
Meanwhile, it was a heartbreaking exit for a PLDT side aiming for a third consecutive championship after collecting preseason crowns in the PVL On Tour and Invitational.
Russian winger Anastasiia Bavykina led the High Speed Hitters with 16 points on 14 attacks, one ace, and one block. Fil-Canadian scorer Savannah Davison added 15 points and 17 excellent receptions.
Kath Arado supplied 18 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions for PLDT.
The High Speed Hitters will face Akari in the bronze medal match on Sunday at 3 p.m.
