ZUS Coffee Rallies Past Capital1 for First Win in 2025 PVL on Tour

ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles finally broke through in the 2025 PVL on Tour, surviving Capital1 Solar Spikers in a thrilling five-setter, 20-25, 26-24, 23-25, 25-18, 15-11, on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

After falling short in their five-set opener against Akari the day before, the Thunderbelles made sure this one ended in their favor. Jovelyn Gonzaga came up clutch in the decider, anchoring a 5-1 finishing kick with five powerful attacks to close the door on the Solar Spikers and give ZUS their first win of the pre-season.

Despite starting the match with a red card due to uniform issues—both teams wore the same blue kits after ZUS’s white jerseys weren’t available—the Thunderbelles stayed composed throughout the rollercoaster battle.

Capital1 opened strong, turning a 19-all tie into a 25-20 first set win with a 6-1 burst. They nearly stole the second frame, erasing three set points behind the efforts of Sydney Niegos and Trisha Genesis, but Chinnie Arroyo’s back-to-back attacks sealed it for ZUS.

In the third set, the Solar Spikers surged ahead 24-21, but despite a late scare from AC Miner and Mycah Go, Shola Alvarez nailed the finishing blow to give Capital1 a 2-1 set advantage.

ZUS turned the tables in the fourth with a dominating 22-14 surge from an 11-10 edge to force a decider once again.

Miner, the No. 5 overall pick, earned Player of the Game honors with a stellar 18-point performance off 13 attacks and five blocks, showing maturity beyond her years. Alvarez, who contributed 19 points, briefly tied the final set at 10-all, but untimely errors from Capital1 allowed ZUS to pull away and clinch the match.

Kate Santiago added 17 points, while Gonzaga finished with 14 points for the Thunderbelles.

Trisha Genesis led Capital1 with 23-point performance, while Alvarez recorded 22 markers in the defeat.

WATCH: Capital1 vs. ZUS Coffee (July 6, 2025) Game Highlights

ZUS Coffee now improves to 1-1 in Pool B, while Capital1 remains winless at 0-4.

Next up, ZUS Coffee will battle Creamline on July 19 in Passi City, Iloilo, while Capital1 looks to bounce back against Akari on July 15 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

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