ZUS Coffee stays flawless, stuns Petro Gazz; Akari sweeps Galeries to bounce back strong

The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles continue to make waves in their Premier Volleyball League debut, extending their dream run to four straight victories after sweeping powerhouse Petro Gazz Angels, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Once considered the dark horse of Pool B, ZUS Coffee has quickly transformed into the league’s biggest revelation, remaining the only unbeaten team (4-0) in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.

American import Anna DeBeer once again shone brightest, spearheading the Thunderbelles’ attack with 23 points, as her unstoppable scoring surge continued to anchor ZUS Coffee’s unbeaten start.

Backed by the veteran steadiness of Jovelyn Gonzaga and the inside presence of AC Miner, the Thunderbelles displayed the poise and cohesion of a seasoned contender rather than a first-year squad.

Miner tallied 11 points on eight kills, two blocks, and an ace, while Gonzaga, making just her second appearance after a brief absence, was everywhere on the floor — finishing with nine points, nine digs, and six receptions in a gritty all-around effort.

Petro Gazz tried to stay within striking distance, particularly in the third set, but a well-timed surge led by Gonzaga and Thea Gagate — helped by untimely errors from import Lindsey Vander Weide — broke the match open with a decisive 4-0 run that turned a slim one-point lead into a commanding 21-16 cushion.

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THUNDERBELLES KEEP ON ROARING!

: PETRO GAZZ vs. ZUS COFFEE

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— Premier Volleyball League (@pvlph) October 28, 2025

From there, DeBeer sealed the deal with her signature firepower as ZUS Coffee cruised to its fourth straight win, wrapping up the one-hour, 21-minute match in dominant fashion.

Playmaker Cloanne Mondoñedo orchestrated the offense beautifully with 23 excellent sets, while Alyssa Eroa anchored the backline with a double-double of 12 digs and 12 receptions.

The Thunderbelles now eye a first-round sweep when they battle Akari on Tuesday, October 14, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Meanwhile, Petro Gazz dropped to 3-2, risking relegation to Pool D after a flat performance marked by inconsistency. Vander Weide led the Angels with 17 points, while Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo chipped in 12 and 10 respectively, but the offense lacked its usual fluidity. Rookie setter Jules Tolentino was replaced by veteran Djanel Cheng in the third frame as the Angels struggled to keep pace.

In the earlier match, Akari Chargers snapped their skid in emphatic fashion, overpowering Galeries Tower Highrisers, 25-11, 25-23, 25-23, to climb back into the win column.

After a crushing five-set loss to Petro Gazz last week, Akari showed composure in the clutch — wiping out a late five-point deficit in the third set behind Ced Domingo, Annie Mitchem, and Grethcel Soltones.

Mitchem powered the Chargers with 14 points, highlighted by four kill blocks, while also contributing seven digs and four receptions. Eli Soyud matched her with 14 markers, including three aces, in a statement bounce-back performance.

Soltones and Fifi Sharma added steady support as setter Mars Alba dished out 20 excellent sets and even scored four points.

With the win, Akari improved to 2-3, setting up a pivotal clash with the unbeaten ZUS Coffee to end its Pool B campaign.

Meanwhile, Galeries Tower (0-5) concluded its first-round run still searching for its first victory. Cvijovic led the Highrisers with 10 points, while Jean Asis and France Ronquillo each scored nine.

The Highrisers now drop to Pool D, where they’ll face a tougher draw against Pool A’s top contenders.

From rookies to record-setters, ZUS Coffee’s fairytale run continues — a caffeine-fueled surge that has the rest of the league wide awake and watching. 

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