ZUS Coffee Shocks Creamline, Proves They’re the Real Deal

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by Raymund Tamayo

The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles upset defending champions Creamline.
The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles upset defending champions Creamline. Photo: PVL Images.

If there were still doubts about ZUS Coffee’s legitimacy as a title threat, consider them erased. 

The Thunderbelles brewed up a storm on Thursday night, stunning defending champions Creamline Cool Smashers in four thrilling sets, 27-29, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22, at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

With the win, ZUS Coffee stayed unbeaten at 3-0, inching closer to locking in a Top 3 finish in Pool B, and sending a loud, caffeinated message to the rest of the league: they’re not just newcomers, they’re contenders.

Once again, it was Anna DeBeer who set the tone. The American import torched Creamline’s defense for 37 big points, her third straight scoring masterclass. DeBeer was relentless from start to finish, hammering down kills from both wings, scoring in crunch time, and providing 15 excellent receptions on top of her offensive explosion.

But it wasn’t a one-woman show. Middle blocker Kalei Miner came up huge in the fourth set, anchoring the Thunderbelles’ 9–4 closing run with back-to-back points that iced the match. Setter Cloanne Mondonedo was also brilliant, dishing out 25 excellent sets that kept Creamline’s blockers guessing all night.

ZUS import Anna DeBeer (18) smashes through three Creamline defenders.
ZUS import Anna DeBeer (18) smashes through three Creamline defenders. Photo: PVL Images.

“It was all teamwork,” said DeBeer afterward. “We stayed balanced, served aggressively, and trusted each other. Cloanne ran the offense perfectly.”

The numbers tell the story: ZUS Coffee edged Creamline in attacks (62–61), matched their blocking (10–9), and capitalized on the Cool Smashers’ 25 unforced errors — a rare sign of vulnerability from the usually composed champs.

For Creamline, it was an off night. Coco Schwan paced them with 18 points, while Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Pangs Panaga added double-digit efforts, but the Cool Smashers struggled to sustain momentum after taking the opening set.

ZUS Coffee’s victory wasn’t just about keeping a clean slate — it was a statement win. Against the PVL’s gold standard, the Thunderbelles showed grit, composure, and a brand of volleyball that’s fearless yet disciplined.

From underdogs to headline-makers, ZUS Coffee just served notice: the new brew in town might be strong enough to take over the league.