PVL: Surging ZUS flexes depth in sweep of Choco Mucho

ZUS Coffee didn't miss a beat despite rotating its lineup, displaying its depth to complete a 25-14, 25-20, 25-23 win against Choco Mucho in the 2026 PVL On Tour on Saturday in Batangas.

The Thunderbelles, fresh off a four-set victory over fellow contender Akari on Wednesday, carried that momentum into another impressive outing as all 14 players saw action in the straight-set win. Nine of them finished with at least five points.

For head coach Jerry Yee, that balanced production is exactly what he wants to see from his rotation.

"Hindi naman ata kumpleto 'yung mga teams pero kami, we're trying to practice our rotations so marami kaming bagong players so we'd like to practice with some playing time," Yee said.

(The teams aren't really complete but for us, we're trying to practice our rotations so we have a lot of new players so we'd like to practice with some playing time.)

But the Flying Titans did not go down without a fight as they gave ZUS a scare late in the third set.

With the momentum clearly on their side, the Thunderbelles surged to a comfortable 22-17 lead in the third frame with lefty outside hitter Kate Santiago and rookie Zam Nolasco giving their side a crucial five-point advantage.

But Des Cheng sparked the Choco Mucho rampage, scoring two attacks as part of a 5-0 blast that allowed the Flying Titans to force a 22-all deadlock.

Jolina Dela Cruz stopped the bleeding for ZUS on the next play, but Caitlin Viray answered and tied things up again at 23-all.

Dela Cruz then came up with a rally-ending hammer from the right wing before AC Miner rejected Cheng on the other side to complete the straight-sets victory for the Thunderbelles.

Chinnie Arroyo led the scorers for ZUS with nine points while another rookie in Nicole Ong and Jovelyn Gonzaga each chipped in eight markers. Veteran Rachel Daquis and Dela Cruz both had six points while Santiago, Nolasco, Miner, and Riza Nogales each posted five.

Although his team is rolling in the preseason showcase, Yee said they still have a lot to improve on as they look to translate this winning formula in the next conference.

"Pag coach ka kasi, 'yung nakikita mo 'yung butas, 'yung kulang, 'yung kailangang i-improve so syempre I'd like to start by saying na masaya na nagrerespond sila sa mga changes pero marami pa tayong trabaho."

(When you are a coach, you see the holes, where you're lacking, what to improve, so of course I'd like to start by saying taht I'm happy they responded to the changes but we still have a lot of work to do.)

—JMB, GMA News