IT'S a first win high for ZUS Coffee after getting the better of Akari in five sets, 16-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, and 15-12 on Thursday at Filoil EcoOil Centre to garner its first win in the 2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The two teams, both winless early on in the tournament, traded the first four sets until the Thunderbelles ran away with it in the fifth frame.
With the tally tied at 3-all, Jovelyn Gonzaga, Fiola Ceballos, and Thea Gagate joined forces in an 8-4 burst that sent them ahead, 11-7. The Chargers refused to fold and pulled within two, 12-14, only to see Chinnie Arroyo shut the door on them once and for all.
Arroyo topped the scoring column for ZUS Coffee with 18 points from 15 attacks and two aces on top of 11 digs, while Gonzaga turned back the clock with 14 markers built on 10 spikes, two blocks, and two service scores. Riza Nogales was also a menace up front with 10 points, including four kill blocks.
Coming off back-to-back losses to Capital1 and Galeries Tower, the Thunderbelles notched theirfirst mark on the win column - also their first in head coach Jerry Yee's one-month break due to health reasons - following two losses in a row.
Akari, on the other hand, fell to a 0-2 start to the conference even after a 24-point outing from Ivy Lacsina, all but three coming from attacks.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
