DeBeer torches Crossovers with 37 points as Thunderbelles roar in 4

DASMARIÑAS, Cavite — Anna DeBeer made up for lost time and then some.

After missing ZUS Coffee’s first outing due to International Transfer Certificate issues that delayed foreign reinforcements, DeBeer debuted in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference with a scintillating 37-point performance to power the Thunderbelles past the Chery Tiggo EV Crossovers, 25-15, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, on Saturday at the Dasmariñas Arena in Cavite.

It was just a point shy of the 38 logged by Farm Fresh’s Eli Rousseaux in a four-set win over Nxled, but it was every bit as impactful and capped by the final kill that sealed the one-hour, 52-minute victory.

“It’s just awesome, I give all the credit to my teammates,” said DeBeer, a former University of Louisville standout.

“Since I arrived, they’ve been incredibly welcoming, and playing in front of a crowd like this—it doesn’t get much better,” she added.

The match looked headed for a deciding fifth set when the EV Crossovers clawed back from three 10-point deficits, the last at 7–17, trimming the margin to one twice and saving match point on a Yuni Batista hammer for 23–24.

ZUS Coffee calmly handled Seth Rodriguez’s serve on the next rally and set up DeBeer for the decisive kill.

Asked about the atmosphere with most of the crowd behind the Thunderbelles, the American outside hitter—who also tallied 14 excellent receptions—said, “Volleyball is a game of momentum, so having the crowd behind us really makes a difference,” adding, “It’s amazing to play in an environment like this.”

With the victory, ZUS Coffee pulled level with Petro Gazz in the Pool B standings after the Angels swept the Galeries Tower Highrisers on Thursday.

Middle blocker AC Miner backed DeBeer with 13 points, Kate Santiago added seven in a two-set stint, Fiola Ceballos had five, Riza Nogales and Thea Gagate chipped in four each with Gagate seeing action in the last two sets, and Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chinnie Arroyo scored three apiece.

With DeBeer leading the charge, ZUS Coffee outgunned Chery Tiggo in attacks, 68–51, even as the Crossovers had the edge in blocks, 8–6.

Batista finished with 22 points to pace Chery Tiggo, Ara Galang added 15, and Cess Robles had nine, but the PVL On Tour runners-up could not contain the Thunderbelles’ late-set surge despite a spirited fourth-set rally.

DeBeer was unstoppable in the opening frame with a mix of power spikes, smart placements, and back-row attacks, momentarily slowed in Set 2 by Chery Tiggo’s tightened net defense before roaring back in the crucial third and fourth sets to steer ZUS Coffee to its first win in the import-laced conference backed by ICTSI, Milcu, Mikasa, and Fabriano.

Her nine-point first set showcased a full arsenal of thunderous hits, soft touches, and sharp angles, and by the final whistle her 37-point eruption had ignited ZUS Coffee’s campaign and turned heads across the league.

In Set 1, the Thunderbelles capitalized on Chery Tiggo’s erratic passing to dominate attacks 17–10 and post a 3–0 blocks edge, but the Crossovers regrouped in Set 2 with four kill blocks to none and an inspired return by Mylene Paat, who delivered three late points including two that built a 21–15 cushion.

It remained DeBeer’s night as momentum swung back in the third, with the outside hitter cranking up the intensity to seize control and close out the match with poise and power.