The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles were not to be denied their first PVL All-Filipino quarterfinal appearance after closing out the Capital1 Solar Spikers in their final play-in tournament match.
The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles will officially head to the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino quarterfinals after clobbering the Capital1 Solar Spikers in four sets, 25-22, 25-17, 18-25, 25-17, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Thursday, March 13.
That means the Cignal HD Spikers, who finished the preliminaries as the third seed, are effectively eliminated after suffering a loss last Tuesday to ZUS Coffee.
The Thunderbelles will finish Pool B with a 2-0 record, entering the quarterfinals as the No. 7 seed where they will face the No. 2 seeded Petro Gazz Angels.
Despite failing to close out Capital1 in the third set, ZUS Coffee came alive in the fourth behind its blocking prowess led by Thea Gagate and Chai Troncoso for an 18-13 lead.
Leila Cruz tried to keep the Solar Spikers afloat but Chinnie Arroyo and Jovelyn Gonzaga brought their squad to match point with back-to-back hits before Julia Ipac’s attack failed to go over the net.
Setter Clo Mondoñedo orchestrated the Thunderbelles’ victory with 24 excellent sets and six points.
The best-of-three quarterfinal series between ZUS Coffee and Petro Gazz will begin next Tuesday, March 18.