In ‘urgent’ Reinforced conference, strong start may hold key
MONTALBAN, Rizal—The Premier Volleyball League’s Reinforced Conference blasts off Tuesday with new faces, high expectations, and opening-day matchups that already feel like must-wins.
At 4 p.m., ZUS Coffee and Akari set the tone at Ynares Center in a clash between two squads trying to escape the shadows of underwhelming campaigns in the PVL On Tour and Invitational Conference. Both have reloaded, and both are hungry.
For ZUS Coffee, redemption may come on the arm of American import Anna DeBeer. The 5-foot-11 outside hitter from the University of Louisville made waves with the Indy Ignite in the Major Volleyball League, tallying 172 points and showing grit on both ends of the floor with 110 digs.
]Now, she leads the Thunderbelles in her first PVL tour of duty.
She’s joined by Thea Gagate, who returns after suiting up for Alas Pilipinas, adding a familiar presence to a team still forging its identity. With Pool B featuring heavyweights like Creamline and Chery Tiggo, every win matters—and they know it.
But Akari is not just here to play spoiler. The Chargers are leaning on American journeyman Annie Mitchem, whose career has taken her across Italy, Turkey, Brazil, and Indonesia. She’ll be surrounded by an intriguing mix of young talent and veterans, including Ivy Lacsina, Faith Nisperos, and Ced Domingo.
By 6:30 p.m., the spotlight shifts to Pool A as Choco Mucho faces off with Capital1 in another intriguing matchup—this time featuring a much-awaited debut.
Three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen, the top pick of the 2025 Rookie Draft, finally makes her pro debut for Capital1. After missing previous PVL stints due to national team commitments, the former NU standout now enters the league with experience—and something to prove.
She’ll share the floor with Ukrainian import Oleksandra Bytsenko, who steps into a key scoring role vacated by Marina Tushova. Capital1, who finished 11th in On Tour, hopes Belen’s arrival sparks a turnaround.
Choco Mucho, meanwhile, will count on another American newcomer: The 26-year-old high-flyer Anyse Smith. After impressing in the AVC Champions League, Smith joins a Flying Titans roster packed with veterans like Dindin Manabat and Des Cheng.
The PVL’s format adds urgency to every match. The 12 teams are split into two pools and play a round-robin. The top three from each group advance to face the bottom three from the opposite pool, with only eight teams making it to the knockout quarterfinals.
It’s a long road to the top, and with just one game per playoff round, the margins will be razor-thin.
But on opening day, no one’s looking that far ahead. For ZUS Coffee, Akari, Choco Mucho, and Capital1, it’s about starting strong, hoping the pieces fall in place when the dust settles.
