Thunderbelles eye last PVL QF berth

ENERGIZED by an epic five-set win over Cignal on Tuesday, ZUS Coffee guns for the last 2025 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals (QF) berth as it faces Capital 1 in the final day of the play-in tournament at the PhilSports Arena today.

The Thunderbelles take on the Solar Spikers at 6:30 p.m. and a victory would clinch them the top seed in Pool A as well as the last playoff ticket.

Chery Tiggo seized one of the two playoff spots earned through the play-in tournament after sweeping Pool B at 2-0 with a 29-27, 15-25, 25-22, 25-21 win over Farm Fresh.

Both eliminated from playoff contention, Nxled and Farm Fresh go at it at 4 p.m. with the hopes of ending their respective campaigns on a high note.

Chai Trongcoso and Chinnie Arroyo banged 21 and 20 points, respectively, to help ZUS Coffee past Cignal and put their team on the verge of a first playoff appearance.

For that to happen, the Thunderbelles must defeat the Solar Spikers and if not the Pool A will settle for a three-way tie at 1-1.

In that scenario, the last quarterfinal spot will be decided based on total points earned, set ratio and set wins.

"I'm really proud of where we came from, but we always aim to go further and keep pushing so we can become the contenders we want to be," said ZUS Coffee head coach Jerry Yee, whose team repeated on the HD Spikers after defeating them in the qualifying round.

"Right now, we're not there yet — we're far from it. But it's good that we see potential, and we're going to keep working on our game."

Yee said that the Thunderbelles should not let their guards down and be complacent against the Solar Spikers, who are fighting for their tournament lives.

"Of course, we're more motivated now. It's such a waste that we worked so hard with Cignal, and then, you know ... it's tough, because if you get complacent [it could cost you the game]," said Yee.

"We're really hungry to win. Wherever we can get a win, we want it. With Capital 1, we'll just play well, and hopefully, we'll get the win and move on to the next rounds."