ZUS Coffee stuns Choco Mucho in thriller to book last PVL On Tour QF slot

ZUS Coffee shook off a slow start and held off Choco Mucho to eke out a 22-25, 20-25, 25-16, 25-17, 15-10 win in the knockout round of the 2025 PVL On Tour on Tuesday at the Philsports Arena. 

The Thunderbelles turned to Chinnie Arroyo the entire game and veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga in the clutch as they clinched the last quarterfinals ticket, setting up a playoffs duel with PLDT.

Arroyo tallied a team-high 21 points while also getting ample help as Gonzaga chipped in 16 markers. AC Miner chimed in with 14 points as Kate Santiago and Fiola Ceballos each chipped in 10 markers. 

Down two sets and on the brink of elimination, ZUS Coffee dug deep in Set 3 with Santiago and Ceballos providing some energy as the latter sent them to a 16-10 cushion. 

Arroyo and rookie middle blocker Miner put together the next points to extend their life to a fourth set. 

Choco Mucho kept it close in the fourth with Isa Molde even tying it at 11-all off a swipe attack, but Arroyo and a number of attack errors from the side of the Flying Titans eventually allowed ZUS to force a fifth set. 

The Thunderbelles left no room for errors in the deciding frame as they opened the period with a pivotal 4-1 start following a denial by Gonzaga on Molde. 

Another block, this time from Maika Ortiz, and a Gonzaga opposite kill sent the wards of head coach Jerry Yee to a huge 11-6 cushion. 

Ceballos then unleashed back-to-back points following a hammer from the left side and a rejection against Jen Villegas' running attempt, bringing her side to a 13-7 lead. 

Choco Mucho could not shatter the wall of ZUS as Miner put the roof on Molde to clinch the match point before Gonzaga unloaded a down-the-line hit that sealed it for the youthful club. 

The loss spoiled the 27-point outing from Molde, who also had 14 receptions in the five-set thriller. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News