ZUS Coffee survives Akari in five-set thriller to open PVL tilt

Even without their American import Anna DeBeer, ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles proved their mettle, grinding out a thrilling five-set victory over the Akari Chargers, 24–26, 25–23, 17–25, 26–24, 15–7, in the opening day of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference on Tuesday night, October 7, at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

The Thunderbelles displayed remarkable depth and teamwork, with six players scoring in double digits to overcome a 1–2 deficit and clinch the season’s first five-set classic. Despite the absence of imports on both sides due to pending international clearances, ZUS Coffee maintained its composure and found ways to execute under pressure.

Rookie middle blocker AC Miner, who played a pivotal role in the team’s fourth-set turnaround, shared that the group focused on staying grounded and maximizing their chemistry. 

She said the team had been working hard to build connection with the setters and among the middles, which paid off when it mattered most. Miner admitted it took her some time to find her rhythm, but credited her teammates for keeping the team composed and resilient until they forced a deciding set.

Veteran libero Alyssa Eroa, who anchored the Thunderbelles’ defense with 22 excellent digs en route to Player of the Game honors, echoed the same sentiment. 

She pointed out that the team’s familiarity and on-court trust carried them through the difficult stretches, especially since most of them had already played together during the PVL On Tour earlier this year.

With their imports expected to join soon, the Thunderbelles’ gritty opening-day triumph stood as a testament to their depth and determination — a promising start for a team eager to make noise in the Reinforced Conference.