ZUS Coffee during a PVL on Tour game against Creamline Cool Smashers. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — ZUS Coffee stood its ground to complete its first franchise win over Creamline, 24-26, 25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 15-11, in the PVL on Tour on Saturday at City of Passi Arena in Iloilo.
The Thunderbelles banked on Chinnie Arroyo’s career-high 23 points as the young outside spiker conspired with rookie AC Miner and veteran Jov Gonzaga to improve to a 2-1 record in Pool B of the preseason.
The loss sent the Cool Smashers to a rare back-to-back skid–their first since falling to Kurashiki Ablaze of Japan in the 2023 Invitational.
READ: PVL: ZUS Coffee rallies past Capital1 for first preseason win
Arroyo and Miner combined for six points to build a 10-6 lead in the decider. Gonzaga and Fiola Ceballos took turns to push ZUS to match point, 14-9.
Michele Gumabao saved a point for Creamline, followed by a Gonzaga attack error to trim the deficit to three, 14-11. But Rose Vargas’ serve sailed out, handing ZUS Coffee its first win over the most successful PVL club since joining the league in 2024.
Zus Coffee’s Chinnie Arroyo during a PVL on Tour game against Creamline Cool Smashers. –PVL PHOTO
“We kept reminding ourselves that yes, Creamline is a crowd favorite, but we shouldn’t let that affect us. We just kept fighting and didn’t let the crowd get to us. At the end of the day, it’s us inside the court,” said Arroyo, who had 22 kills and an ace.
“This win means a lot to us because Creamline is a champion team, and they’re really good. But credit goes to the whole team. It wasn’t just me out there. If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have won.”
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Miner continued to shine with 16 points off 14 spikes and two aces. Gonzaga delivered 12 points. Clo Mondoñedo tossed 30 excellent sets. Chai Troncoso added nine points and 24 digs, while libero Alyssa Eroa chipped in 21 digs.
ZUS Coffee coach Jerry Yee was grateful for the win but quickly turned his focus to their next game against Cignal on Sunday.
“We’re happy because it’s against Creamline but we still have to work. We have another game tomorrow, and that will be tough as well,” said Yee in Filipino. “It’s good that there’s improvement, and that’s what’s important. If there’s no improvement, then we’re not doing our jobs. So it’s great that we’re seeing these signs, moving slowly but steadily, progressing and improving.”
Arroyo and Gonzaga helped ZUS Coffee erase a 10-14 start in the fourth, with the latter cutting the gap to 21-22. Jema Galanza stopped the bleeding for Creamline with a smart hit, then two crucial ZUS errors–a service miscue by Riza Nogales and a wide attack by Miner–allowed the Cool Smashers to force a decider.
After dropping the opening set, ZUS Coffee built a 20-12 lead in the second before Creamline scored five straight capped by an Ella De Jesus ace. Arroyo restored order before Gonzaga and Troncoso’s clutch hits, plus an error from Alyssa Valdez, tied the match at one set apiece.
ZUS also saw a 23-19 lead in the third trimmed after Valdez scored three straight to make it 23-22. But Nogales blocked her next attack to reach set point, and after Valdez saved one, Troncoso delivered the set-clinching hit for a 2-1 advantage.
Creamline slid to a 2-2 record after losing in straight sets to Cignal in San Juan City two weeks ago. The 10-time PVL champion has less than 24 hours to recover before facing Chery Tiggo.
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Galanza carried the Cool Smashers with 21 points built on 16 kills, three blocks, and two aces to go with 13 digs. Valdez contributed 16 points and 21 excellent receptions, while Gumabao added 14.
