ZUS Coffee, Choco Mucho gut out opening-day PVL wins despite import delay

Even without their foreign reinforcements, ZUS Coffee and Choco Mucho proved that heart, chemistry, and poise can still win opening-day battles in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.

In a rare double-header that tested depth over star power, both squads rose to the occasion Tuesday at the Ynares Center, surviving gritty challenges from Akari and Capital1 in contrasting fashions.

Thunderbelles rally past Chargers in five-set thriller

ZUS Coffee’s debut as a rebranded franchise couldn’t have been more dramatic. Down by a set and battling through the absence of import Anna DeBeer, the Thunderbelles clawed back to outlast the Akari Chargers, 24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 15-7, in Pool B action.

The much-discussed delay in the release of International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation meant that both DeBeer and Akari’s Annie Mitchem were ineligible to suit up — turning what was billed as a showdown of imports into a test of local depth and grit.

In the end, it was ZUS Coffee’s collective steadiness that prevailed. Setter Joyme Mondonedo orchestrated a well-balanced attack with 28 excellent sets, distributing the offense among six double-digit scorers.

Middle blocker Ivy Lacsina was out, but her replacement, Thea Gagate, filled the void with authority, while Risa Nogales, fresh off a Best Middle Blocker citation in the Invitationals, stood tall once more with 15 points — five coming off blocks.

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NEW-LOOK SOLAR SPIKERS, FLYING TITANS ALL SET!

: CAPITAL1 vs. CHOCO MUCHO

Watch the games on:
: One Sports | One Sports+
: Pilipinas Live
: https://t.co/ihdl9Qn3VC#PVL2025 | #TheHeartOfVolleyball pic.twitter.com/1X0w18kieZ

— Premier Volleyball League (@pvlph) October 7, 2025

Veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga led by example, contributing 14 points and 13 digs, while Chinnie Arroyo and Fiola Ceballos provided consistent scoring. Off the bench, Kate Santiago and AC Miner came through in clutch moments, combining for 23 points.

A key challenge midway through the fifth set swung momentum in ZUS Coffee’s favor, erasing what could have been a turning point for Akari. After a successful review that forced a replay, the Thunderbelles went on a decisive run capped by Arroyo’s back-to-back kills for a 9-7 lead they never surrendered.

Defensive ace Alyssa Eroa was another unsung hero, anchoring floor coverage with 22 excellent digs that disrupted Akari’s rhythm down the stretch.

Despite the loss, the Chargers saw strong outings from Eli Soyud (22 points), Chenie Tagaod (18), and Fifi Sharma (13), but missed the stabilizing presence of Faith Nisperos and Ivy Lacsina.

Choco Mucho outlasts Capital1 in Belen’s PVL debut

In the nightcap, the Choco Mucho Flying Titans spoiled the highly anticipated Premier Volleyball League debut of Bella Belen, outlasting the youthful Capital1 Solar Spikers, 33-31, 26-24, 25-23, in Pool A.

The match mirrored the earlier encounter — another showcase of resilience amid import restrictions. Choco Mucho’s Anyse Smith and Capital1’s Oleksandra Bytsenko were also unavailable pending ITC clearance, forcing both teams to rely on their local cores.

Despite the missing firepower, Choco Mucho’s returning veterans answered the call. Kat Tolentino marked her comeback from appendicitis with a game-high 15 points, complemented by 11 digs. Maddie Madayag and Dindin Santiago-Manabat added timely hits, while Isa Molde chipped in 14 markers.

Their collective experience proved decisive in closing tight sets, as the Flying Titans dominated the net battle (11 blocks to 8) and finished with a slight edge in attacks, 56-51.

Belen, however, showed why she was the No. 1 overall pick. The UAAP MVP made an electric first impression, recording a rare triple-double — 20 points, 18 digs, and 12 receptions — despite falling short in the end.

Capital1 also found positives in the loss, with Leila Cruz posting 18 points and libero Roma Doromal showing defensive grit with 15 receptions and 10 digs.

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