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Thunderbelles Strike! ZUS Coffee Stuns Petro Gazz In Epic PVL Quarterfinal Upset
Photo credit: PVL
In a jaw-dropping twist, ZUS Coffee brewed up the biggest surprise of the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference, taking down the heavily favored Petro Gazz Angels in straight sets—25-21, 25-23, 27-25—on Tuesday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
This stunning victory puts the Thunderbelles on the verge of making history, as they inch closer to a breakthrough semifinal appearance. Against a squad packed with championship experience, ZUS Coffee showed nerves of steel, outlasting the Angels in a heart-stopping extended third set to grab a crucial 1-0 lead in their best-of-three quarterfinal series.
Underdog Mentality, Championship Heart
It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. The Thunderbelles, often overlooked in the league’s hierarchy, played with the confidence of a seasoned contender. Rising star Chinnie Arroyo went toe-to-toe with Petro Gazz’s powerhouse Brooke Van Sickle in the dying moments of the third set, delivering two clutch kills to keep ZUS Coffee in the fight.
Veteran leader Jovelyn Gonzaga then took matters into her own hands, forcing an extension with a crucial block touch against Myla Pablo. Moments later, Pablo’s misfired attack handed ZUS Coffee the advantage, and Gonzaga sealed the deal with a solo block that sent the Thunderbelles into an electrifying celebration.
At this rate, who’s to say this underdog squad can’t go all the way?
Fueled by Passion (and Maybe Coffee)
“It must’ve been a good morning,” joked Michelle Gamit when asked if she had coffee before the game. But the real key -– pure determination.
“Everyone wanted to win, and thank God, all our hard work in training paid off,” said Gamit, who shined with 10 points, including six attacks, two blocks, and two aces.
The win was a team effort through and through. On any given night, it could’ve been Gonzaga, Arroyo, Troncoso, or Thea Gagate stealing the spotlight. But what mattered most was that ZUS Coffee, once seen as just another team, is now the biggest revelation of this historic six-month conference.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Statistically, ZUS Coffee matched Petro Gazz in attacks (45 each), but the difference came in their net defense. The Thunderbelles racked up 11 blocks—Troncoso alone had five—while Petro Gazz only managed five.
Van Sickle led all scorers with 18 points, while Pablo added 14. But when it mattered most, the Angels faltered under pressure, with Pablo committing two costly errors in crunch time.
Meanwhile, ZUS Coffee’s masterful playmaking, led by Cloanne Mondonedo (19 excellent sets), kept Petro Gazz scrambling for answers. Their chemistry—built from the grind of the preliminaries and qualifiers—proved stronger than any big-name experience.
Game 2: A Fight for Survival
With ZUS Coffee’s momentum at an all-time high, Petro Gazz now faces a do-or-die Game 2 on Saturday. The Angels will need to regroup fast if they want to keep their playoff dreams alive.
But one thing’s for sure: the Thunderbelles aren’t just here to make the semis. They’re here to shake up the league—and maybe, just maybe, chase that championship dream.
This stunning victory puts the Thunderbelles on the verge of making history, as they inch closer to a breakthrough semifinal appearance. Against a squad packed with championship experience, ZUS Coffee showed nerves of steel, outlasting the Angels in a heart-stopping extended third set to grab a crucial 1-0 lead in their best-of-three quarterfinal series.
Underdog Mentality, Championship Heart
It wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. The Thunderbelles, often overlooked in the league’s hierarchy, played with the confidence of a seasoned contender. Rising star Chinnie Arroyo went toe-to-toe with Petro Gazz’s powerhouse Brooke Van Sickle in the dying moments of the third set, delivering two clutch kills to keep ZUS Coffee in the fight.
Veteran leader Jovelyn Gonzaga then took matters into her own hands, forcing an extension with a crucial block touch against Myla Pablo. Moments later, Pablo’s misfired attack handed ZUS Coffee the advantage, and Gonzaga sealed the deal with a solo block that sent the Thunderbelles into an electrifying celebration.
At this rate, who’s to say this underdog squad can’t go all the way?
Fueled by Passion (and Maybe Coffee)
“It must’ve been a good morning,” joked Michelle Gamit when asked if she had coffee before the game. But the real key -– pure determination.
“Everyone wanted to win, and thank God, all our hard work in training paid off,” said Gamit, who shined with 10 points, including six attacks, two blocks, and two aces.
The win was a team effort through and through. On any given night, it could’ve been Gonzaga, Arroyo, Troncoso, or Thea Gagate stealing the spotlight. But what mattered most was that ZUS Coffee, once seen as just another team, is now the biggest revelation of this historic six-month conference.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Statistically, ZUS Coffee matched Petro Gazz in attacks (45 each), but the difference came in their net defense. The Thunderbelles racked up 11 blocks—Troncoso alone had five—while Petro Gazz only managed five.
Van Sickle led all scorers with 18 points, while Pablo added 14. But when it mattered most, the Angels faltered under pressure, with Pablo committing two costly errors in crunch time.
Meanwhile, ZUS Coffee’s masterful playmaking, led by Cloanne Mondonedo (19 excellent sets), kept Petro Gazz scrambling for answers. Their chemistry—built from the grind of the preliminaries and qualifiers—proved stronger than any big-name experience.
Game 2: A Fight for Survival
With ZUS Coffee’s momentum at an all-time high, Petro Gazz now faces a do-or-die Game 2 on Saturday. The Angels will need to regroup fast if they want to keep their playoff dreams alive.
But one thing’s for sure: the Thunderbelles aren’t just here to make the semis. They’re here to shake up the league—and maybe, just maybe, chase that championship dream.
Mar 19, 2025
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