ZUS Coffee punches PVL semis ticket after sweep of Capital1

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles’ Cinderella season will still continue after dominating the Capital1 Solar Spikers, 25-14, 25-20, 25-18, to claim a seat in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference semifinals on Nov. 24, 2025, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.

Despite facing a rejuvenated Capital1 squad that came from a huge win over the Galeries Tower Highrisers, the top-seeded Thunderbelles made quick work of the tagged “Dark Horse” of the import-laced conference.

Leaning on a lopsided opening set performance that completely changed the complexion of the quarterfinal clash, ZUS Coffee didn’t let their momentum slip away and pounced on Capital1 in the last two sets to seal the deal.

American import Anna DeBeer refused to put the Thunderbelles in any upset alerts, taking charge for three consecutive sets en route to a game-high 24-point performance.

DeBeer capitalized on Capital1’s loose floor coverage and immediately increased her spike tally to nine successful attacks as early as the first set, while also helping in the backline that prevented any easy freebies for the Solar Spikers.

When the Thunderbelles blasted the gates wide open, which ballooned the gap to 10 points, Capital1 committed some costly errors that gave ZUS Coffee a 1-0 lead.

Even when Capital1 deployed Leila Cruz and Pia Abbu together in the center line for some middle blocking action, the crafty DeBeer just found ways to penetrate through, including a series of drop balls and down-the-line off-speed hits.

Capital1’s reinforcement Oleksandra Bytsenko tried to clip some spark in the final phases of the second set, but DeBeer, backstopped by Chinnie Arroyo and Riza Nogales, joined hands to spoil the Solar Spikers’ come-from-behind attempt.

It was all ZUS Coffee in the third and final set, as Cloanne Mondoñedo, the team’s setter, varied the team’s scoring options that put AC Miner and Ilongga Jovelyn Gonzaga inside the offensive picture.

Aside from DeBeer’s 24 points, the American outside hitter also delivered eight excellent digs and seven excellent receptions, while Mondoñedo orchestrated ZUS Coffee’s attack with 17 excellent sets.

Arroyo and Nogales chipped in eight markers each, while Gonzaga and Miner added six markers apiece to help the Thunderbelles advance to the semifinal round of the PVL Reinforced Conference.

Awaiting ZUS Coffee in the Final Four stage are the rolling PLDT High-Speed Hitters, while completing the cast are the Akari Chargers and the Petro Gazz Angeles.