SAN JUAN CITY, Metro Manila — ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles finally found their footing in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday night, outlasting the Akari Chargers in a tense five-set duel, 16-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, 15-12, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The victory — a hard-earned reverse sweep — lifted ZUS Coffee to 1-2 in the early standings, snapping a two-game skid and signaling life in a campaign that risked drifting off course. For Akari, the loss deepened early-season concerns, dropping the Chargers to 0-2.
A Match of Swings and Survival
The contest unfolded like a pendulum. Akari controlled the opening set, 25-16, overpowering ZUS Coffee with disciplined defense and sharp attacks. The Thunderbelles answered in the second, leveling the match with a composed 25-18 response.
But stability proved elusive. Akari regained control in the third set, 25-18, pushing ZUS Coffee to the brink of another defeat. Facing elimination, the Thunderbelles leaned on resilience rather than reinvention. They edged the fourth set, 25-23, in a tightly contested exchange that pivoted on defensive stops and timely substitutions.
The decisive fifth set was a test of nerve. With the score knotted in the closing moments, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chinnie Arroyo, and Fiola Ceballos delivered crucial points to complete the 15-12 escape.
Key Performers Deliver Under Pressure
ZUS Coffee’s breakthrough win rested on balanced contributions across the roster:
- Chinnie Arroyo: 18 points, 11 digs
- Jovelyn Gonzaga: 14 points
- Riza Nogales: 10 points, including 4 blocks
- Thea Gagate: 9 points
Arroyo’s two-way presence steadied the Thunderbelles during long rallies, while Nogales’ work at the net disrupted Akari’s attacking rhythm. Gonzaga’s late-set execution proved decisive.
“I’m grateful to everyone because, as the coaching staff mentioned, each player really contributed. The coaches’ strategic decisions were also pivotal,” Gonzaga said after the match.
She added, “More than the victories and the accolades, what truly matters is how we navigate our challenges as a team. This win signifies our gradual progress; we are not dwelling on past setbacks but are actively moving ahead.”
Deputy coach Onyok Getigan credited both leadership and tactical adjustments.
“Our players, particularly Jov, really elevated their game. Our substitutions proved effective, making this a truly gratifying and joyous occasion for us,” Getigan said.
Standings Tighten Early in All-Filipino Conference
The PVL All-Filipino Conference, a 10-team tournament featuring exclusively local talent, remains in its opening stretch after kicking off on February 5.
As of February 12, ZUS Coffee stands at sixth place with a 1-2 record, while Akari sits near the bottom at 10th with 0-2. Early deficits are not insurmountable in a long conference, but margins tighten quickly in a league known for parity.
For Akari, the back-to-back losses may prompt internal reassessment as the Chargers seek traction before the gap widens.
More Than a Win: A Boost for Women’s Volleyball
Beyond the standings, Thursday’s thriller reaffirmed the growing pull of women’s volleyball in Metro Manila and across the Philippines. The Filoil EcoOil Centre crowd responded to every swing in momentum, mirroring the drama unfolding on court.
In neighborhoods where televised matches often draw families around small screens and sari-sari store sets, games like this serve as communal touchstones. Affordable live tickets and free broadcasts continue to fuel grassroots enthusiasm, particularly among young athletes in volleyball hotspots like San Juan.
The Thunderbelles’ comeback, equal parts grit and composure, underscored the competitive balance the league has sought to cultivate. For a team that entered the night searching for a spark, the reverse sweep may mark not just a notch in the win column, but a recalibration of belief.
With the conference still in its early chapters, ZUS Coffee’s first victory suggests that momentum, much like Thursday’s match, can turn quickly — and decisively.
