Miner, Mondonedo lead Thunderbelles’ youthful charge vs stunned Angels

ZUS Coffee proved it’s for real – brewed strong to last and taste better with every victory sip.

The Thunderbelles extended their sizzling form in the PVL Reinforced Conference, dismantling veteran-laden Petro Gazz Angels, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Tuesday.

Their triumph was powered by a masterful all-around performance from playmaker Cloanne Mondonedo and a stellar defensive showing from Alyssa Eroa.

While Anna DeBeer once again delivered her trademark firepower – following her decisive contributions in ZUS Coffee’s victories over Chery Tiggo, Galeries Tower and Creamline – middle blocker AC Miner earned Best Player of the Game honors with an impressive 11-point performance, highlighted by two blocks and an ace.

“We prepared like we always do for every game, including studying the opponent,” said Miner, reflecting on the Thunderbelles’ dominant 4-0 start in Pool B.

Their unbeaten streak not only secured them a Top 3 finish going into the crossover phase but also made them the only squad yet to drop a match in the 12-team, two-group field.

“But it’s the in-game adjustments that matter most. Everyone worked hard from start to finish,” she added.

The Thunderbelles aim to complete a perfect first round when they face the Akari Chargers on Nov. 4 at the MOA Arena.

“We’ll focus on correcting the small mistakes we make each game during practice,” said Miner.

The surprise, one-hour, 21-minute sweep of the two-time Reinforced champions followed a four-set upset over the Cool Smashers and earlier convincing wins against EV Crossovers and the Highrisers.

DeBeer tallied 23 points, including the final two kills that ended the Angels’ attempt to save two match points.

Her consistency helped the Thunderbelles weather brief comeback attempts from Petro Gazz.

Veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga contributed nine points, while also providing crucial leadership and composure throughout the match.

Fiola Ceballos and Thea Gagate chipped in four points each, with Riza Nogales and Mondonedo adding three and two points, respectively.

Statistically, the Jerry Yee-coached ZUS Coffee outgunned Petro Gazz in attacks, 50-42, fell slightly behind in blocks, 5-6, but capitalized on 18 points from the Angels’ errors while committing 13 of their own.

“Grateful talaga ako sa commitment ng bawat isa. Sa training, ike-credit ko rin ‘yung mga second stringers namin, sila talaga ang mga pumupukpok sa amin,” said Gonzaga.

“Inuubos nila kami para pagdating sa laro, alam na namin ‘yung gagawin so credit goes to them,” she added.

“’Yung first 6 naman, ‘yung tiyaga at ‘yung utak, ‘yung setter at ‘yung diskarte ni coach talaga.”

Mondonedo’s distribution dazzled with 23 excellent sets, completely outshining rookie counterpart Jules Tolentino, who managed only eight excellent receptions while alternating with Djanel Cheng.

“Very proud ako at thankful sa lahat. Sa bawat isa sa amin, lahat sa practice, talagang binibigay nila lahat ‘yung best nila,” said Mondonedo.

Eroa also delivered a standout performance with 12 excellent digs and 12 excellent receptions, neutralizing the power game of Lindsey Vander Weide and Brooke Van Sickle and facilitating successful counterattacks.

Vander Weide and Van Sickle settled for 17 and 12 points, respectively, while Myla Pablo and MJ Phillips added 10 and nine markers, respectively, for the Angels, who dropped to 3-2 but are still in the thick of the Top 3 race.

From the onset, the Thunderbelles showed no trace of intimidation against the Angels, who were coming off victories over the Chery Tiggo EV Crossovers and the Chargers.

They broke through in a tightly contested opening frame with poise well beyond their years.

Locked in a tense back-and-forth endgame, Mondonedo took charge, orchestrating a decisive finishing burst that left Petro Gazz’s defense scrambling.

The crafty setter fed Chinnie Arroyo for a clean hammer from the left pin, then immediately swung the offense to DeBeer, who unleashed a thundering back-row hit.

The Angels tried to stay alive by going to Weide, but the import’s attack sailed long – sealing the set for ZUS Coffee, which celebrated the breakthrough with evident fire and belief.

That momentum carried over into the second set, where the Thunderbelles’ defense and blocking began to take full shape.

With Mondonedo running the floor with precision and pace, ZUS Coffee turned what had been a tight duel into a showcase of youthful dominance.

DeBeer, Gonzaga, Miner, Nogales, and Ceballos all contributed in a balanced attack that outgunned the Angels, 19-13, midway through the frame.

Even a few erratic plays – five points conceded on unforced errors – couldn’t derail ZUS Coffee’s surge, as the Angels struggled to adjust to the Thunderbelles’ quick tempo and unpredictable combinations.

The Angels, who committed three errors of their own, were repeatedly caught flat-footed by Mondonedo’s sharp decision-making.

Mondonedo again shone brightest in the clutch.

With the Angels threatening to extend the rally, she calmly set up a clever sequence – first anchoring a combination play that drew the blockers toward Miner, before flipping the ball to DeBeer for a surprise open attack.

Moments later, she capped her brilliance with a lightning-fast set to Nogales, whose quick crosscourt hit cleanly beat Phillips’ outstretched arms to finish off the set in style.

It was a statement win for ZUS Coffee, which not only kept its unbeaten record intact but also underscored its status as a serious contender.

Against one of the league’s most experienced squads, the Thunderbelles’ cohesion, energy, and fearless playmaking were simply too much to handle.