AC Miner to miss ZUS Coffee’s opener against Capital1 due to a recurring shin injury

The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles are set to open their 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference campaign against the Capital1 Solar Spikers on Tuesday, February 3, at the FilOil EcoOil Center, but the squad will do so shorthanded in their season debut.

The Thunderbelles will be without reigning Rookie of the Conference AC Miner, who has been ruled out of the opener as she continues to recover from a lingering shin injury. Miner’s absence puts the team at an immediate disadvantage as it begins its All-Filipino Conference run against a Solar Spikers side eager to make an early statement.

Strong Group Athletics (SGA) head of volleyball operations Kiara Cruz confirmed in a media interaction that Miner has been dealing with a recurring shin injury since 2025. According to Cruz, team management made the decision to prioritize Miner’s long-term health, opting to give the promising middle blocker ample time to fully recover rather than risk worsening the injury early in the conference.

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“AC Miner has been dealing with a recurring shin injury since last year. She can play through it, but we opted to let her heal so that she can be 100 percent for the rest of the year,” Cruz said in a statement.

AC Miner was placed on day-to-day status as ZUS Coffee prioritized her recovery from a recurring shin injury

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— Strong Group Athletics (@stronggroupathl) February 2, 2026

Selected fifth overall in the PVL Rookie Draft last June, Miner quickly established herself as one of the league’s brightest young talents. She capped an impressive debut by winning the Rookie of the Conference award in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, emerging as a key contributor on both ends of the floor despite her limited experience at the professional level.

Miner finished her first conference with 82 total points, the second-highest output among all rookies, while averaging 10.25 points per match. Her impact was especially evident at the net, where she ranked eighth in the league in blocking with 0.55 blocks per set—numbers that underscored her rapid development into a dependable presence in the middle.

While Miner’s absence will be felt, the Thunderbelles are not without options as they look to shore up their defense and maintain competitiveness at the net. Former No. 1 overall draft pick Thea Gagate is expected to take on a larger role in the middle, supported by the veteran presence of Riza Nogales and Maika Ortiz, along with the athleticism of Caroline Santos. All four are capable of anchoring the front line and providing the blocking stability needed to offset Miner’s temporary absence.

The opener against Capital1 will serve as an early test of the Thunderbelles’ depth and adaptability as they navigate the opening stages of the All-Filipino Conference. With Miner expected to return later in the season once fully healthy, ZUS Coffee’s focus remains on building momentum while ensuring their prized rookie is ready for a sustained run when it matters most.

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