ZUS Coffee roared back with purpose and resumed its charge for the top seed in the Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference quarterfinals with a 25-13, 25-21, 25-21 sweep of Nxled at the Ynares Center-Montalban in Rizal on Tuesday.
Needing just 78 minutes of controlled dominance, the Thunderbelles not only strengthened their bid for a more favorable knockout matchup but also sent a clear, emphatic message-to be counted among the league’s true title contenders.
Anna DeBeer finished with 16 points, while AC Miner delivered 15 points and Chinnie Arroyo and Kate Santiago added 10 and nine points, respectively.
‘It was a good win for us-just to get some confidence back after our last game,’ DeBeer said. ‘We came in, worked hard, and we’re getting ready for the quarterfinals.’
Miner called the bounce-back victory ‘great.’
‘I’m very happy for the team,’ she said. ‘It’s really great. Now we’re heading into the quarterfinals with a lot more confidence.’
The Thunderbelles outclassed the Chameleons in all scoring fronts-49 attack points to 36, six blocks to four, and three aces to two.
It was a performance sharp enough to restore their rhythm, rebuild momentum and regain confidence ahead of what promises to be a chaotic, four-game knockout quarterfinal round on Monday.
Setter Cloanne Mondonedo also tuned up for the bigger battles ahead with 23 excellent sets-nearly doubling the output of her counterpart Jaja Maraguinot, who tallied 13.
Santiago also held her own defensively with nine excellent digs and eight receptions, while DeBeer anchored the floor with 11 excellent digs, allowing Mondonedo to orchestrate the offense smoothly throughout the abbreviated contest.
Nxled, meanwhile, wrapped up its forgettable campaign with an 0-8 record, winning just five sets all tournament long.
Paola Martinez led the Chameleons with 15 points, Lyann de Guzman added 10 and Chiara Permentilla chipped in nine points.
De Guzman also impressed on defense with 11 excellent digs and 11 receptions, while Martinez and Permentilla tallied eight digs and 12 receptions, respectively.