Thunderbelles’ Gonzaga, Miner Power Five-Set Win

Games on Saturday (July 12)
(Capital Arena, Ilagan City)
4 p.m. – Farm Fresh vs. Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs. Petro Gazz

In a grind-it-out match, ZUS Coffee outlasted Capital1 in a 20-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11 win at the PVL On Tour in Montalban, Rizal, late Sunday.

Despite a draining five-set loss to the Akari Chargers the night before, the Thunderbelles dug deep, saving their best for last to beat the Solar Spikers in Pool B play in two hours and 13 minutes.

Veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga spearheaded the decisive run, scoring three of ZUS Coffee’s first four points in the final set and hammering down two of the last three, including an off-the-block hit that sealed the victory.

Earlier, Gonzaga pounced on a Capital1 overset to give ZUS a 13-10 cushion after two clutch blocks on Shola Alvarez, and an Alvarez misfire—after teaming with Trisha Genesis and Sydney Niegos to push Capital1 ahead two sets to one—sent the Thunderbelles to match point.

Niegos saved one with a kill, but Gonzaga delivered the final blow with a fitting end to a hard-earned triumph.

Rookie AC Miner backed up her 12-point debut against Akari with an 18-point explosion that included five blocks.

“I gave it my all and we really pushed hard to extend the match,” said Miner, a former Ateneo standout, who showed remarkable poise under pressure.

Kate Santiago added 17 points, while Chinnie Arroyo chipped in nine. Fiola Ceballos and Mycah Go added eight and seven, respectively, delivering clutch hits to keep ZUS Coffee in control or stave off rallies.

The Solar Spikers fell short after winning the crucial third set, unable to match ZUS Coffee’s intensity in the fourth and losing steam late in the fifth despite four deadlocks and three lead changes.

Genesis led Capital1 with 23 points, Alvarez had 22 and Niegos scored 19—but the Solar Spikers once again struggled to finish strong.

Capital1 outgunned ZUS Coffee in attacks, 74-68, but the Thunderbelles led in blocks, 7-5, and capitalized on the Solar Spikers’ 30 unforced errors compared with their own 21.

ZUS Coffee setter Cloanne Mondonedo also shone with 37 excellent sets, compared with Iris Tolenada’s 32.

Earlier, Capital1 finished strong to take the first set, but ZUS Coffee clawed back behind Arroyo’s late-game heroics in the second to level the match.

In the third, Capital1 caught the Thunderbelles off guard and Alvarez ensured they maintained the momentum. In the fourth, ZUS Coffee regained rhythm, pulling away midway to force another fifth set.

 

Crossovers Weather Chargers in Thriller

Chery Tiggo showed poise and mettle in a 24-26, 25-19, 25-16, 23-25, 15-10 win over Akari at the PVL On Tour in Montalban, Rizal, on Sunday.

With fresher legs, the Crossovers battled back from a set down, weathered Akari’s fourth-set push and finished strong in the decider to remain unbeaten in the pre-season tournament.

Cess Robles starred with 23 points—21 attacks and two blocks—along with 15 digs and 10 receptions in an all-around MVP performance.

Rookies Jyne Soreño and Renee Penafiel stepped up when it mattered most, highlighting the team’s depth and hustle.

Soreño shrugged off a health scare in set three and finished strong, delivering two final points including a reverse-set kill and match-clinching service ace.

Penafiel contributed 12 points and eight receptions, delivering clutch hits during critical rotations when Robles and Soreño rested.

The fifth set featured five deadlocks before Chery Tiggo unleashed an 11-4 finishing burst, sparked by Jasmine Nabor’s smart play.

An error by Akari’s Eli Soyud gave the Crossovers a two-point cushion before Imee Hernandez extended the lead with a quick attack.

After Ivy Lacsina momentarily stalled the run with a joust win, Akari committed three straight errors, allowing Chery Tiggo to surge ahead.

Though Kamille Cal blocked Robles at the net, Soreño finished the match with a massive kill and the final ace.

Chery Tiggo’s mental toughness contrasted sharply with Akari’s error-strewn performance.

Despite leading in blocks (14-5) and attacking nearly point for point (56-59), the Chargers were undone by 41 unforced errors—nearly double their opponent’s 21.

Akari showed flashes of brilliance in the fourth, with Camille Victoria’s block on Robles giving them a 23-18 lead before the Crossovers rallied.

Victoria struck again to secure set point, and Grethcel Soltones hit off-block to force the decider.

Lacsina and Soyud led Akari’s offense with 18 and 17 points, respectively, and Ced Domingo added 12, but costly miscues late spelled their undoing.

Soltones was limited to seven points after her 23-point game against ZUS Coffee, while rookie Chenie Tagaod also scored seven. Ezra Madrigal and Victoria had six and five, respectively, as Akari fell to 1-3.

Despite their loss, the Chargers showed heart and fought fatigue after their grueling win over the Thunderbelles the previous night.

Chery Tiggo’s bench depth, composure and spunk proved decisive in the end.

Coach Norman Miguel’s timeout message midway through set four—“Guys, pagod na ang mga kalaban”—proved prophetic.

The Crossovers hustled for every loose ball, forced errors and delivered when it mattered most.

Nabor directed the offense with 28 excellent sets and five points, Hernandez added eight markers and Ara Galang contributed five after sitting out the previous match.