MONTALBAN, Rizal — ZUS Coffee ruled a frantic, import-less start to the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference as it bested Akari, 24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 15-7, on Tuesday at Ynares Center II.
The Thunderbelles atoned for a shaky start with a storming finish to the first five-setter of the conference, unleashing a 9-0 run from 6-7 down in the tiebreak to stun the reigning silver medalists.
A perplexing conundrum hours before the conference opener forced both teams to sit out foreign guest players Annie Mitchem and Anna DeBeer amid an ongoing impasse with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).
READ: PVL hits out at PNVF as imports are a no-go for start of Reinforced Conference
Left with no choice but to go all-Filipino, it was veteran libero Alyssa Eroa who stood out on defense for ZUS Coffee with a sweeping 22-dig, 21-reception double-double.
“Wala rin naman pong pinagkaiba [kahit walang import] kasi going back po sa last conference, same naman po ‘yung naging players namin sa loob,” Eroa said.
“Always naman po kaming nagpa-practice ng connections with the setters, lalo na kaming mga middles, pero masasabi ko lang na we did a good job today kahit medyo sa dulo na ako gumana,” added AC Miner who had 10 points in the five-set contest.
Rookie middle blocker Riza Nogales stood front and center with 15 points capped by five blocks in an all-Filipino rotation that had six players still hit double figures.
Nogales, the reigning PVL Invitational best middle blocker, steadied a turbulent Thunderbelles ship from a set down by denying a late Chargers comeback in Set 4 before pulling away in sudden death.
Akari had Alas Pilipinas aces Mars Alba and Fifi Sharma back in its stable, with 24 excellent sets and 13 points respectively, but did not have its mainstay winger Ivy Lacsina onboard as she recovers from nagging back issues.
A vintage performance from Grethcel Soltones, one that fell a point shy of a triple double with nine markers, 16 receptions and 10 digs, failed to avert a late collapse that ended in a forgettable conference-opening loss.
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