ZUS Coffee seizes lead as Galeries Tower breaks through

BATANGAS CITY — ZUS Coffee drew steady production from nearly every player it fielded to sweep a depleted Choco Mucho side, 25-14, 25-20, 25-23, and take the early solo lead in the PVL On Tour on Saturday at the Batangas City Sports Center.

The Thunderbelles improved to 2-0 in the six-week preseason tournament after opening their campaign with a four-set victory over Akari on Wednesday in Ilagan, Isabela. Sharper and more cohesive in their second outing, they controlled the match through balanced scoring, disciplined defense, and a commanding presence at the net.

Coach Jerry Yee used the contest to test the rotations of a retooled roster featuring several offseason additions, and the Thunderbelles responded with quality minutes across the lineup. “Hindi naman ata kumpleto ‘yung mga teams, pero kami we’re trying to practice our rotations so marami kaming bago, marami kaming bagong additions so we’d like to practice and give them some playing time,” said Yee.

No ZUS Coffee player reached double figures, but nine Thunderbelles scored at least five points in a clear display of the depth that separated the two teams. Chinnie Arroyo led the balanced attack with nine points, while Jovelyn Gonzaga and rookie Alyanna Ong added eight apiece.

Sam Nolasco, who scored 14 points against Akari, was held to five, but ZUS Coffee barely felt the drop in production. Rachel Anne Daquis and Jolina dela Cruz contributed six points each, while Kate Santiao, Riza Nogales, and AC Miner finished with five apiece.

Choco Mucho held a slight 40-38 edge in attacks, but ZUS Coffee dominated the match at the net with a 17-4 advantage in blocks. The Thunderbelles also converted 18 points off the Flying Titans’ errors while yielding only 12 on their own miscues, allowing their defense and discipline to offset the narrow attacking deficit.

Caitlyn Viray carried much of Choco Mucho’s scoring load with 12 points, while Des Cheng added 10. The Flying Titans, however, struggled to generate enough support while playing without Eya Laure, Sisi Rondina, and Kat Tolentino.

ZUS Coffee appeared headed for a routine finish after taking a 22-17 lead in the third set, but Choco Mucho mounted its strongest response of the match with five consecutive points to draw level. Dela Cruz stopped the run with a timely attack, only for Viray to answer and tie the score again.

After a long exchange marked by heavy swings and scrambling floor defense, dela Cruz delivered another clutch kill before Miner sealed the victory with a block on Cheng. The Thunderbelles completed the straight-set win in one hour and 16 minutes.

ZUS Coffee had shown the same composure in the second set after falling behind, 0-4. Gonzaga began the recovery with a well-placed drop ball before the Thunderbelles settled into a sustained run built on efficient attacking and disciplined coverage.

Choco Mucho struggled to find clean scoring opportunities against ZUS Coffee’s floor defense and blocking. Back-to-back Flying Titans errors ended the set, with Lorraine Pecaña called for a net violation on a Nolasco attack before a four-touch violation off dela Cruz’s hit handed the Thunderbelles a two-set lead.

The Thunderbelles had earlier controlled the opening frame as Choco Mucho labored through a shaky start while continuing to adjust to its depleted roster. ZUS Coffee capitalized on the early uncertainty and never allowed the Flying Titans to establish a stable offensive rhythm.

Choco Mucho entered the third set with renewed energy and scored six straight points after conceding the first two. Ong ended the run before the teams traded points in the most competitive stretch of the match.

Viray continued to shoulder the Flying Titans’ offense, while Nolasco mixed up her attacks and delivered an ace that gave Choco Mucho a 9-7 lead. The Flying Titans remained within striking distance for much of the set, but ZUS Coffee’s superior depth proved decisive in the closing points.

Earlier, Galeries Tower delivered one of the day’s biggest surprises by outlasting Farm Fresh, 25-17, 24-26, 25-19, 26-24, at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.

Opening victories have been rare for the Highrisers, making the result a significant early statement for a team seeking to establish itself among the league’s stronger contenders. Galeries Tower seized control with explosive starts in the first and third sets before showing poise in a tense fourth-set finish.

“Sinabi ko nga sa players ko na dito namin masusubukan ngayon ‘yung mga skills na pinaghirapan namin bago mag-start ‘yung season,” said head coach Clarence Esteban.

“Maganda ‘yung nilabas nila nung game, dahil na rin sa kagustuhan nilang manalo nitong araw na ‘to. Pero syempre hindi basta-basta rin si Farm Fresh, so grateful ako sa mga players namin na nagpursigi para makuha namin ‘yung panalo,” Esteban added.

Roselle Baliton completed the one-hour, 57-minute victory with a quick attack off rookie setter Lams Lamina’s one-handed feed after a frantic rally that brought the Batangas crowd to its feet. Farm Fresh challenged the play for a possible net fault, briefly delaying the celebration, but a video review confirmed that Baliton had not touched the net before delivering the match-winning hit.

The victory initially moved Galeries Tower alongside opening-day winners Creamline and ZUS Coffee in the early standings before the Thunderbelles secured the solo lead later in the day.

Galeries Tower built its advantage by punishing Farm Fresh’s slow starts in the first and third sets. The Foxies looked tentative and disorganized in the opening frame, allowing the Highrisers to dictate the pace with a 7-0 run while repeatedly converting in transition and capitalizing on erratic play.

The same pattern resurfaced in the third set as Farm Fresh again fell behind early. Galeries Tower opened a 13-7 advantage and maintained control to regain a two-sets-to-one lead.

The Highrisers’ service problems nearly undermined their effort in the second set. Galeries Tower out-attacked Farm Fresh, 15-12, in the frame but committed 13 errors, seven more than the Foxies.

Six consecutive service miscues from an 8-all tie allowed Farm Fresh to escape with the set and level the match. The Highrisers, however, responded with greater composure when the fourth set developed into another pressure-filled exchange.

Aiza Pontillas struck on consecutive attacks to give Galeries Tower a 21-19 lead, but veterans Royse Tubino and Mylene Paat-Rezanova answered with an attack and a block to tie the score. Jean Asis restored the Highrisers’ advantage with a quick hit before Erika Deloria converted a down-the-line winner after an extended defensive sequence.

Lycha Ebon then countered another Tubino crosscourt attack to send Galeries Tower to match point. Ces Molina kept Farm Fresh alive with a power hit before Riri Meneses scored on a quick attack to force another extension.

Ebon responded with a clutch kill through a double block as Galeries Tower refused to surrender control. Lamina then disguised a one-handed set that Baliton emphatically converted to end the match.

Deloria anchored the Highrisers with 24 points built on 22 attacks and completed a dominant all-around performance with 10 excellent digs and 13 excellent receptions. Pontillas added 13 points, while Asis and Baliton scored nine apiece.

Ebon and Jade Gentapa contributed seven points each as Galeries Tower overwhelmed Farm Fresh in attacks, 65-51. Last season’s most valuable player, Trisha Tubu, was limited to six points in three sets of action for the Foxies.

Tubino led Farm Fresh with 12 points, Ara Galang finished with 11, and Paat-Rezanova added eight. The Highrisers also held a 9-4 advantage in blocks, with Ebon and Asis collecting two apiece.

Galeries Tower overcame 28 points conceded through errors, seven more than Farm Fresh surrendered. Although Lamina delivered the decisive set, veteran playmaker Jules Coronel directed the Highrisers’ offense for most of the match and finished with 21 excellent sets, while Louie Romero recorded 13 for the Foxies.

The PVL On Tour resumes July 25 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, with Nxled facing Capital1 at 4 p.m. and PLDT meeting Choco Mucho at 6:30 p.m.