Jovelyn Gonzaga had nothing but praise for her ZUS Coffee teammates and coaching staff, after pulling off a stunning sweep of Petro Gazz to take Game 1 of the PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals.
Jovelyn Gonzaga could hardly find the words to describe ZUS Coffee’s breakthrough performance in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals.
The Thunderbelles had just stunned the second seed Petro Gazz Angels in straight sets, 25-21, 25-23, 27-25, in Game 1 of the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 18.
In a frantic extended set, Gonzaga sealed the huge victory for ZUS Coffee after blocking Myla Pablo's spike attempt.
“Sobra akong speechless, grabe ‘yung teamwork na pinakita ng team,” Gonzaga said during the post-game press conference. “Very selfless ‘yung pinakita—gagalaw talaga kami for each and everyone of us—for the team, for the coaching staff.”
The Thunderbelles, who swept the play-in tournament, are now on the verge of clinching their first-ever semifinal appearance.
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But for Gonzaga, their Game 1 win was more than just about results—it was a testament to the trust and strategy of their coaching staff.
“Kudos din talaga sa coaching staff, kung paano nila kami gamitin, kung sino’ng taong ipapasok, kelan ilalabas,” she said. “Anlaking factor talaga siya during that game.”
While the win was a major statement, Gonzaga knows that the series is far from over, especially with Petro Gazz expected to fight back harder in Game 2.
“Gusto namin i-feel muna pagka-panalo pero alam namin na sa Game 2 magtatrabaho at magtatrabaho ang kalaban, so there’s no room for complacency,” she emphasized.
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With a golden opportunity ahead, Gonzaga and the Thunderbelles are determined to finish strong and turn their dream semifinal berth into reality.
“Pagtatrabahuan namin [at] kung anuman pinakita namin, dodoblehin namin. Kailangan lang namin makinig sa coaching staff.”
Game 2 is set on Saturday, March 22 at the Ynares Center Antipolo.