NO SISTER ACT: Zus Coffee guns for 3rd win vs Farm Fresh
‘We’ll just play our game. It doesn’t matter who we face on the other side of the net.’
Jovelyn Gonzaga is the biggest reason behind the surge of Zus Coffee in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PVL
Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4 p.m. — Farm Fresh vs ZUS Coffee
6:30 p.m. — Petro Gazz vs Akari
ZUS Coffee seeks to sustain its hot streak against a resurgent Farm Fresh in a battle of sister squads in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Thunderbelles are on a two-game roll and eyes to make it three in a row in the curtain-raiser at 4 p.m. to climb up for a share of the second spot.
Leaning on the leadership of veteran winger Jovelyn Gonzaga and consistency from top overall pick Thea Gagate, ZUS Coffee, which is tied with Petro Gazz with identical 2-1 win-loss cards, has turned its fortunes around with a promising run in the season-opening conference.
The Jerry Yee-mentored squad is coming off a dominating 25-22, 25-16-25-19, victory over the Galeries Tower last week behind the 14-point explosion of Chinnie Arroyo and 11 markers by Chai Trongcoso with Gagate and Gonzaga providing ample support.
“We’ll just play our game. It doesn’t matter who we face on the other side of the net. When the referee blows his whistle, it’s game on,” Yee said, refusing to mind the fact that they are facing a squad that is also under the umbrella of Strong Group Athletics of distinguished businessman Frank Lao.
Yee, who transferred to the Thunderbelles during the Reinforced Conference after calling the shots for the Foxies last year, will try to take advantage of his familiarity with his former squad.
ZUS Coffee’s defense will surely zero in on Farm Fresh’s main hitter Trisha Tubu.
The power-hitting opposite spiker unleashed 21 points in an efficient 18-of-36 spiking clip to tow the Foxies to a 25-23, 25-21, 25-14, shocker of skidding Akari last Saturday for their first win in three starts.
“Hopefully, our win will be the start of something big for us. We’ll use it as motivation for our next games,” Tubu said.
Farm Fresh first year mentor Benson Bocboc will also bank on Caitlyn Viray, Rizza Cruz, Alyssa Bertolano and prized setter Louie Romero to score back-to-back victories.
Meanwhile, clashing at 6:30 p.m. are Petro Gazz and Akari.
The Angels eye to start a winning streak after trumping Farm Fresh in straight sets last week.