MONTALBAN — ZUS Coffee has done all it could in the race for the top seed, routing winless Nxled in straight sets, 25-13, 25-21, 25-21, in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at Ynares Center II.
A sweep was the Thunderbelles’ best-case scenario, letting them secure the full 20 match points and elevate their set ratio to 2.625.
READ SCENARIOS: How PLDT, Farm Fresh, ZUS Coffee can clinch No. 1 seed
But for ZUS Coffee to break through to No. 1, both PLDT and Farm Fresh would still need to either drop at least two sets each or lose outright in their respective assignments on Thursday.
ZUS Coffee set the tone early with a dominant first-set start, even while managing the minutes of American import Anna DeBeer ahead of next week’s knockout quarterfinals.
"What's making our team so successful this season is that everyone is stepping up in different moments. It does help to kind of take the load off certain players in certain moments and that makes our jobs easier when everyone's just doing their roles," said DeBeer, who finished with 16 points and 11 digs.
The Thunderbelles closed the opener with an 8-0 finishing burst and led by as many as 12.
The second set proved far more competitive, with Nxled drawing level at 14-all and staying within two late, before Thea Gagate and Kate Santiago delivered the final blows.
AC Miner anchored the middle with 15 points on an impressive 72-percent success rate, followed by Chinnie Arroyo’s 10 markers and a near triple-double from Kate Santiago, who finished with nine points, nine digs and eight receptions.
Ultimately, the playoff-bound Thunderbelles remained firmly in control in the last frame, dealing the Chameleons their ninth straight loss dating back to the PVL on Tour in August.
Onto the next for Nxled
The defeat also cemented Nxled’s first winless campaign in two years and six conferences, with Spanish import Paola Martinez concluding her PVL debut without a single victory.
She finished her final outing with 15 points and six digs.
Lyann de Guzman delivered a triple-double of 10 points, 11 digs and 11 receptions, while captain Chiara Permentilla fell a point short of a double-double after tallying nine points and 12 receptions.
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