Jovelyn Gonzaga and the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles were just a few points away from pulling off the incredible upset against the Creamline Cool Smashers in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
From struggling to find their first win in the PVL for most of 2024, the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles have turned things around in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
Their latest result proved just that, as the Thunderbelles nearly pulled off the momentous upset against the Creamline Cool Smashers last Thursday, December 12.
ZUS Coffee went toe-to-toe against Creamline in a thrilling five-set showdown, 22-25, 30-28, 24-26, 25-17, 13-15, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
While the loss handed the Thunderbelles their second straight setback, veteran spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga, who joined the team just this offseason, took solace in the team’s growth and resilience against the defending champions.
“Sobrang grateful kami sa naging outcome ng performance namin,” Gonzaga told reporters after the match. “Sayang, siya sa sayang, pero part of us happy kasi somehow yung paghihirap ng team, during trainings, nagbubunga. It’s a good sign na may progress kami.”
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Gonzaga highlighted ZUS Coffee’s strides as a team, emphasizing the contributions of every player, from the starting six to the second unit.
“Everyone is stepping up na, paunti-unti nilang ini-embrace yung responsibility,” Gonzaga noted. “Mas magaan yung trabaho kasi lahat nagtutulungan. Credit din sa coaching staff kung paano nila pinaikot at inadjust yung players during the game.”
Despite their youth as a team, Gonzaga acknowledged the lessons learned from their tightly contested match against the seasoned and multi-titled Cool Smashers.
“Alam naman natin kung paano maglaro ang Creamline,” she said. “Lumalabas talaga ‘yung pagkabata ng game namin during pukpukan moments. Pero hindi ito magiging excuse. Motivated kami na pagbutihan pa lalo.”
“Yung standing ng Creamline, ilang championships na sila and nakakasabay kami. Depende na lang talaga sa amin kung paano kami magtitiwala sa sarili namin at mag-aadjust during the game,” she added.
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The loss serves as a stepping stone for the Thunderbelles, who will look to rebound when they face the Choco Mucho Flying Titans on January 18.
“Happy kami sa laro namin overall. Sana madala namin ito as good motivation for next year and sa mga susunod pang laban, Gonzaga concluded.