ZUS Coffee sips first win, escapes Akari in five-setter

ZUS Coffee arrested a two-game slide with a come-from-behind shocker over Akari, 16-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, 15-12, for its first win in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.

Chinnie Arroyo led the way for the Thunderbelles with 18 points, 14 coming from attacks including the game-clinching kill, and added 11 kills.

Jovelyn Gonzaga finished with 14 markers on 10 spikes, two aces and two kill blocks while Riza Nogales tallied 10 markers for ZUS Coffee, who joined Choco Mucho and Capital1 with 1-2 win-loss slates.

“All ZUS players like Jov, they stepped up. Our rotations and substitutions worked really well, so we’re really happy for the win,” Thunderbelles assistant coach Onyok Getigan said.

ZUS Coffee survived the marathon two-hour, 20-minute battle despite giving away 31 points to Akari off errors.

The Thunderbelles got into trouble midway through the deciding frame after their four-point lead was cut to just one, 8-7, after the Chargers racked three straight points coming off the first technical timeout.

ZUS Coffee fired back with three consecutive points capped by back-to-back hits by Fiolla Ceballos. Ivy Lacsina answered with two straight kills but Kate Santiago stopped Akari’s run with an off the block attack.

Lacsina cut the Chargers’ deficit back to two, 12-10, but Judith Abil made a costly service error. The Thunderbelles had a miscue in the next play before Gonzaga pushed her team at match point.

Eli Soyud saved a point for Akari but Arroyo sealed the deal with a crosscourt hit.

Lacsina had 24 points and nine excellent receptions but not enough to save the Chargers from going 0-2.

Fifi Sharma added 14 points and Chenie Tagaod scored 10 for Akari off the bench.