Games Friday:
(FilOil EcoOil Centre)
1:30 p.m. --- Cignal vs Capital1
4 p.m. --- Farm Fresh vs Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. --- Nxled vs PLDT
ZUS Coffee brewed another strong showing after a masterful dismantling of Petro Gazz, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, to stay unbeaten in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Setter Cloanne Mondonedo effectively activated the Thunderbelles’ deep arsenal to overwhelm the Angels for their fourth straight win in as many starts in Pool B.
American Ana DeBeer was in her usual explosive self, pounding in 22 of her 23 points from kills while young middle blocker AC Miner found her attacking rhythm to complement her vaunted net defense to finish with 11 markers for ZUS Coffee.
However, it was Mondonedo’s impressive playmaking that got the Thunderbelles going. She tallied 23 excellent sets to help the ZUS Coffee unleash 46 kills – 12 more than what the Angels produced.
“Very proud and also thankful to everyone in the team. In each of us actually. Everyone’s giving their all starting in practice. Our seniors are helping our young players to be more mature during games. Also, thankful for Anna’s huge impact. Happy and proud with the progress of the team,” Mondonedo said.
Veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga added nine points, nine digs and six excellent receptions while keeping the Thunderbelles together with her leadership.
ZUS Coffee has already secured a spot in Pool C in the second round against the lower three teams in Pool A.
Petro Gazz finished the round with a 3-2 slate, which put the reigning All-Filipino Conference champion in a precarious spot to fall out of the Top 3.
Lindsey Vander Weide had 17 points for the Angels, who saw their two-game winning run snapped, while Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo had 12 and 10 markers, respectively.
In the other Pool B game, Creamline bucked a slow start to beat Chery Tiggo, 23-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-17, for a 3-2 card and a spot in the Top Three.
American Courtney Schwan blasted 29 points, Tots Carlos fired 17 while Pangs Panaga had 16 for the Cool Smashers.
The EV Crossovers absorbed a fourth defeat in five outings to close the round.
Cuban Yunieska Robles-Batista has 22 point, Ces Robles got 11 markers and Mylene Paat scored 10 for Chery Tiggo.
Meanwhile, Akari swept past winless Galeries Tower, 25-11, 25-23, 25-23, to get back on the winning track and improve to a 3-1 card in Pool B.
Down, 18-23, in the third set, Ced Domingo, import Annie Mitchem and Grethcel Soltones initiated the Chargers’ blistering 7-0 finishing run that sealed the sweep.
Mitchem and Eli Soyud posted 14 and 12 points, respectively, for Akari.
The Highrisers, paced by Montenegrin reinforcement Jelena Cvijovic’s 10 points, ended the round with a 0-5 record and will head to Pool D in the next round along with the EV Crossovers, facing the top three teams of Pool A.