Thunderbelles Stay Unstoppable: ZUS Coffee Pulls Off Epic Reverse Sweep vs. Akari

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by Misha Cruz

The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles celebrate during their game versus the Akari Chargers.
The ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles celebrate during their game versus the Akari Chargers. Photo: PVL Images.

ZUS Coffee just proved why they’re the real deal. 

Down two sets and staring at their first loss of the season, the Thunderbelles came alive in dramatic fashion, completing a 23-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-12, 15-7 reverse sweep over Akari in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday night.

This wasn’t just a comeback; it was a statement. After a shaky start, ZUS Coffee flipped the switch and unleashed the kind of rhythm and intensity that only elite teams have. Once they caught fire, there was no stopping them.

Leading the charge was import Anna DeBeer, who turned in another MVP-caliber performance with 33 points, highlighted by a near-flawless attacking spree and 12 excellent receptions. “It’s all about teamwork,” DeBeer said after the match. “We didn’t start great, but once we found our groove, it just felt amazing to get that first five-set win of the season.”

And groove they did. Behind DeBeer’s relentless scoring, Jovelyn Gonzaga and Riza Nogales combined for 22 points, while Chinnie Arroyo and AC Miner added timely hits that kept the Thunderbelles surging. Their defense also locked in, turning what looked like a lost match into a highlight reel of grit and chemistry.

ZUS Coffee import Anna DeBeer.
ZUS Coffee import Anna DeBeer. Photo: PVL Images.

After dropping the first two sets, ZUS Coffee’s confidence never wavered. They clawed back to snatch Set 3, then unleashed a dominant 25-12 fourth set that left Akari scrambling. By the time the fifth set rolled in, it was all ZUS — fueled by DeBeer’s back-to-back kills, Nogales’ monster blocks, and Gonzaga’s signature finishing flair that sealed the one-hour, 56-minute thriller.

Setter Cloanne Mondonedo was the quiet engine behind the chaos, dishing out 27 excellent sets and dictating the tempo that completely threw Akari’s defense off balance. Her connection with DeBeer and Miner was pure artistry — quick, creative, and unstoppable.

Coach Jerry Yee credited the turnaround to discipline and execution: “We just made the right adjustments and trusted our basics. The players stayed calm and did what we practiced.”

For Akari, import Annie Mitchem (27 points) and Eli Soyud (15) tried to keep them afloat, but their 32 unforced errors proved too costly.

Akari import Annie Mitchem spikes the ball against two ZUS Coffee defenders.
Akari import Annie Mitchem spikes the ball against two ZUS Coffee defenders. Photo: PVL Images.

With the win, ZUS Coffee finished the prelims at 5-0, carrying not just a perfect record but also the confidence of a squad that knows how to fight back — and finish strong.

From the energy, teamwork, and sheer willpower they showed tonight, one thing’s clear: ZUS Coffee isn’t just winning — they’re redefining what it means to dominate.