Games today:

(Philsports Arena)

4 p.m. — Nxled vs Farm Fresh

6:30 p.m. — Capital1 vs ZUS Coffee

Pulling off a convincing victory will be the order of business when Zus Coffee faces Capital1 for a chance to advance to the quarterfinals of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference today at the Philsports Arena.

Action starts at 6:30 p.m. with the Thunderbelles needing either a sweep or a four-set triumph to gain a maximum of three points that will send them to the quarterfinals, a feat that seemed impossible a few weeks ago.

On the other hand, Capital1, which was eliminated after a four-set loss to Cignal last Thursday, will look to salvage a respectable finish.

Meanwhile, PLDT will serve as the country’s third team in the 2025 AVC Women’s Champions League.

The High Speed Hitters earned the spot to join Creamline and Petro Gazz following a solid performance in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.

The Thunderbelles aim to replicate their dominant straight-set win over the Solar Spikers in the preliminary round last January. However, beyond their momentum, the Thunderbelles credit their success to the unconventional yet effective coaching style of Jerry Yee.

“Happy, very happy, that’s all,” Yee said after their stunning five-set upset of Cignal last Tuesday.

Unlike most coaches who rely on fiery instructions, Yee remains calm and analytical, allowing his players to develop their own resilience in high-pressure situations.

“There was a little frustration because we could’ve closed it out in the fourth set, but we let it slip. Still, we held on in the fifth, so we’re happy,” he added, emphasizing his team’s growing maturity despite their inexperience.

Their victory over the HD Spikers was a testament to their grit. After squandering a big lead in the fourth set, the Thunderbelles regrouped and outlasted their more experienced opponents in the decider.

“After we lost the fourth set, our coaches and ate Jovelyn (Gonzaga) told us to reset and focus on Set 5,” said Chai Troncoso, who led the team with 21 points.

Gonzaga, one of the team’s veterans, reinforced their belief in each other.

“Our mindset was simple: The ball is round. We believed we could win, and we put our hearts into every point,” the veteran opposite spikers said.

For Chinnie Arroyo, the team’s Best Player of the Game with 20 points in their impressive 19-25, 25-23, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12 win over Cignal late Tuesday, their motivation is clear.

“God, my family, my teammates, and our coaches, this is for them. We wouldn’t be here without them.”

Rookie standout Thea Gagate added that avenging their earlier loss to the HD Spikers provided extra drive.

“Our motivation was to bounce back from that defeat,” she said, bracing for an all-out war against the dangerous Solar Spikers.