ZUS Coffee continues perfect PVL start after sweeping Galeries

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Games today, Oct. 16, 2025
1:30 p.m. – Cignal vs. Farm Fresh
4 p.m. – Capital1 vs. Nxled
6:30 p.m. – PLDT vs. Choco Mucho

The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles cruised past the Galeries Tower Highrisers in sweeping fashion, 25-22, 25-16, 25-16, to extend their undefeated start in the ongoing Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Oct. 14, 2025, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Fresh off a four-set victory over the veteran-laden Chery Tiggo Crossovers, the Thunderbelles picked up where they left off, pulling off a flawless sweep that moved them to the top spot of Pool B, joining the Akari Chargers with identical 2-0 win-loss records.

American import Anne DeBeer set the tone for ZUS Coffee after spearheading a run that broke the close seesaw battle in the final six game possessions of the opening set.

With both teams failing to snatch the momentum, DeBeer took matters into her own hands, scoring back-to-back down-the-line spikes that steered ZUS Coffee to a 25-22 win.

Aside from her much-needed offensive resurgence after a slow start, DeBeer also fortified the Thunderbelles’ floor coverage, tallying two crucial digs that prevented Galeries from equalizing the first set at 24-all.

DeBeer’s all-around efficiency injected the spark for ZUS Coffee that saw a nip-and-tuck affair turn into a lopsided beating in the final two frames.

However, the edge that the Thunderbelles had in the win was their almost perfect execution across three sets with only 13 registered errors.

Most miscues came in the opening set, and ZUS Coffee made sure no freebies from their minor lapses would cost them the game when they staged a rundown of Galeries in sets 2 and 3.

“Work in progress,” said ZUS Coffee’s head coach Jerry Yee after the win.

“Still trying to get better. Yung mga challenging teams nga, so hinihintay natin. Siyempre pagka nandyan na sila, doon lalabas lahat ng hinahana.”

DeBeer spearheaded ZUS Coffee’s flawless performance with 17 points built from 15 successful attacks alongside five excellent digs and two service aces.

Backstopping the reinforcement was former Ateneo standout AC Miner, who tallied 10 points off seven successful attacks, two blocks and a service ace.

The Thunderbelles will gun for their third consecutive victory on Oct. 23 against Alyssa Valdez and the Creamline Cool Smashers, while Galeries aims for their first-ever win on the same date against Chery Tiggo.

Unbeaten High Speed Hitters, surging Titans collide in key duel

PLDT faces Choco Mucho today (Thursday) in a marquee matchup in the PVL Reinforced Conference, headlining another action-packed triple-header in Pool A play at the Araneta Coliseum.

Touted as a duel of league powerhouses, the showdown is expected to rival—or even eclipse—the intensity and quality of play of last Tuesday’s Creamline-Petro Gazz classic.

The High Speed Hitters are coming off a dominant sweep of Capital1 Solar Spikers in a rare Monday game, launching their campaign for a third consecutive PVL championship.

But beyond the title chase, PLDT is also looking to stretch its incredible win streak to 15 matches, a run dating back to their PVL On Tour and Invitational title victories.

Despite the emphatic win, head coach Rald Ricafort emphasized that the team is still a work in progress.

“Marami pa kaming kailangang ayusin,” said Ricafort, referring especially to Russian import Anastasiia Bavykina.

“Nag-a-align pa siya sa team. Yung mga kulang namin, siya ang nagpupuno. Hopefully, with chemistry, mas makapag-gel kami.”

Cohesion will indeed be key for PLDT as it duels a confident Choco Mucho side that proved its mettle in a four-set stunner over Cignal—despite playing without American import Anyse Smith, who is still awaiting her special work permit.

Led by Maddie Madayag and Isa Molde, the Flying Titans leaned on their local core to pull off the win, showing depth and resilience.

Coach Dante Alinsunurin praised his team’s effort and unity.

“Ang mindset ng team is that may mga times nga na may challenges kami na kailangan namin na magtulungan—sa depensa, opensa. Kaya nakuha namin ang panalo,” said Alinsunurin, reflecting on their first victory.

He also drew strong performances from Des Cheng, Kat Tolentino, Cherry Nunag and Royse Tubino—all of whom are expected to play key roles again in tonight’s 6:30 p.m. main event.

PLDT, however, is not lacking in firepower either.

Alongside Bavykina, the High Speed Hitters have a formidable cast that includes Kim Dy, Majoy Baron, Mika Reyes, Dell Palomata and Canadian ace Savi Davison.

Jessey de Leon and Jovie Prado add depth, while top rookie Alleiah Malaluan is also expected to see action.

Tonight’s duel is projected to be a closely contested thriller, much like the Creamline-Petro Gazz faceoff, where the Cool Smashers bounced back from a five-set loss to the Akari Chargers to edge the Angels in four and even their Pool B record at 1-1.

Earlier in the day, Farm Fresh looks to keep pace with the leaders when it meets a struggling Cignal side at 1:30 p.m.

The Foxies are riding high after a four-set win over Nxled, sparked by a spectacular 38-point eruption from import Eli Rousseaux—setting the early bar for foreign reinforcements.

With support from Trisha Tubu, Ces Molina, Rizza Cruz, Lorene Toring and Fil-Am setter Alohi Robins-Hardy, Rousseaux will once again be the focal point against a Cignal team still reeling from its loss to a Choco Mucho squad without an import.

Eva Chantava managed just 10 points in that game, with Vanessa Gandler stepping up with 15.

But more will be needed from Chantava and the rest of the Super Spikers, including Erika Santos, Erin Pangilinan, Jackie Acuña, Heather Guino-o and Gel Cayuna, to stop the surging Foxies.

Meanwhile, at 4 p.m., Nxled and Capital1 tangle in a battle of opening-game losers, both looking to gain traction in their campaigns in the year-ending conference organized by Sports Vision and backed by ICTSI, Milcu, Mikasa and Fabriano Appliances.