ILAGAN — ZUS Coffee pocketed not only its first win but also the first P100,000 incentive of the 2026 PVL on Tour after beating Akari, 25-11, 25-23, 26-28, 25-17, on Wednesday at the Capital Arena.
The Thunderbelles had the match all but wrapped up after the first two sets before a costly third-set lapse from Kate Santiago prolonged the contest, handing an extended Set 3 to Akari on its fourth set point.
They left no doubt in the fourth, however, with a 6-1 start that couldn’t be overturned to put the Chargers away.
The match also served as another run for the league’s experimental rules introduced during last May’s All-Star Game, including the two-point Premier Ball and the mandatory 14-player rotation that required every player to log at least three rallies.
It then gave ZUS Coffee an early glimpse of its retooled roster, with former Farm Fresh standout Jolina dela Cruz and reigning NCAA Season 101 MVP Zam Nolasco both earning spots in the starting six.
Nolasco wasted no time making an impact in her Thunderbelles debut, pouring in a team-high 15 points highlighted by four blocks. Middle-turned-opposite AC Miner matched her output with 15 markers on nine attacks, four blocks and two aces while adding 10 digs.
“Familiar na rin kami sa program, sa system, sa mga players, so wala naman po sobrang adjustment. Parang kini-keep up ko lang po kung paano ako maglaro,” said Nolasco.
Dela Cruz also made an immediate impression, posting a 12-point, 13-reception double-double in her debut, while veteran Rachel Daquis turned back the clock with 11 points.
Nicole Ong, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s Rookie Draft, likewise made her PVL debut, becoming the first member of the 11-player rookie class to see action in the pros. The Mapua middle blocker chipped in four points.
For Akari, only Eli Soyud reached double figures with 16 points as the Chargers struggled to recover from a slow start. They were buried by a 14-point margin in the opening set and fell behind, 1-10, early in the second.
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