ZUS Coffee zaps Choco Mucho, completes quarterfinals cast

Games on Thursday:

(Philsports Arena)

4 p.m. --- Cignal vs Akari

6:30 p.m. --- PLDT vs ZUS Coffee

Zus Coffee sent Choco Mucho packing in a come-from-behind, 22-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-10, stunner in the knockout round to complete the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) On Tour quarterfinals cast Tuesday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.    

All too familiar in marathon matches, the Thunderbelles won their fourth of five five-setters of the pre-season to advance into the next round against the unbeaten PLDT High Speed Hitters.

The ZUS Coffee-PLDT one-game showdown is set Thursday at the same venue.

Veterans Chinnie Arroyo and Jovelyn Gonzaga led the way in ZUS Coffee’s second straight quarters appearance. Arroyo scored 20 of her 21 points on kills while Gonzaga had an all-around effort of 16 markers including 13 spikes and seven digs for the Thunderbelles.  

“We’re grateful to be in two quarterfinals. So far, what we’re working on training is now bearing fruit. I think it reflects on our game how solid we are as a team on and off the court,” Gonzaga said.

ZUS Coffee hosted a block party with 16 kill blocks with rookie AC Miner accounting for four to finish with 14 points while Fiola Ceballos also tallied four to end her night with 10 points. Kate Santiago got 10 markers.

The Thunderbelles rallied in the third and fourth frames after a cold outing in the first two sets.

ZUS Coffee established an early lead in the fifth frame and was in full control, 11-6, after a Gonzaga kill.

Ceballos scored off an attack and a kill block before rookie AC Miner shut the door on the Flying Titans to go into match point, 14-7.

Choco Mucho tried to spark a late uprising with three straight points before Gonzaga hammered the final nail in the Flying Titans’ coffin.

"We’re very grateful to our management for trusting us. They keep on telling us to just do our best and God will do the rest. All’s worth it,” Gonzaga said.

Isa Molde saw her personal tournament-high 27 points go down teh drain as the Flying Titans fall short. Royse Tubino and Ayesha Juegos had 17 and 11 markers, respectively, while Chery Nunag had 10 for Choco Mucho.

Other quarters pairings pit Creamline against Farm Fresh, Akari taking on Cignal and Cherry Tiggo tackling Nxled.