Ben Madilynn
ZUS Coffee brewed a bold comeback to erase the bitter taste of a previous heartbreaker, drubbing Capital1, 31-29, 25-15, 25-15, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference preliminaries at the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Saturday.
With firepower and teamwork firing on all cylinders, the Thunderbelles broke down the Solar Spikers in the last two sets. Chai Troncoso, Michelle Gamit, Thea Gagate, and Jovelyn Gonzaga delivered standout performances, anchoring their team’s surge in the one-hour, 29-minute match.
However, it was Chinnie Arroyo who stole the spotlight, delivering a stellar 15-point performance alongside 12 excellent digs to earn the game’s top honors.
“Kailangan sipagan namin lagi, palo lang ng palo, walang susuko (We need to always push ourselves, just keep hitting and never give up,)” said Arroyo. She attributed the team’s victory to their unwavering determination.
“Wala lang bibitaw, tibay lang ng loob to (No one should falter; it’s all about staying strong and steadfast),” she added.
Troncoso and Gamit matched 12-point outputs while Gagate, Gonzaga, and Gayle Pascual finished with eight, seven, and five points, respectively.
Their dominance in the second set was particularly emphatic, as they took control from the outset and never looked back on their way to improve their (win-loss) record to 3-4, snapping an alarming three-game skid, including two five-setters.
Capital1, led by Jorelle Singh’s 10 markers, Rovena Instrella’s seven points, and Lourdes Clemente-De Guzman and Sydney Niegos’s identical six points, fell to 1-6.
Holding a commanding 16-10 lead in the third set, the Thunderbelles capitalized on the Solar Spikers’ struggles in reception. This opened the floodgates for ZUS Coffee to unleash a relentless series of attacks, leaving its rivals reeling and sealing their sixth loss against a lone victory in the tournament.
Capital1 coach Roger Gorayeb lamented his team’s persistent difficulties in initiating effective attacks, constantly urging his players to go all-out on spikes and seize every offensive opportunity.
However, the Solar Spikers’ inconsistency proved insurmountable against the Thunderbelles’ cohesive and aggressive play.
Crucially, the Thunderbelles showcased resilience and composure, qualities that were visibly absent in their previous outings. PR
