Thunderbelles can end days of mediocrity in battle with Solar Spikers
Perennially out of playoff contention in its first two PVL conferences, ZUS Coffee has a golden chance to play in an entirely different environment.
The Thunderbelles can step into the quarterfinal picture for the first time once they accomplish the mission of beating the Capital1 Solar Spikers on Thursday in the All-Filipino Conference play-in round at 6:30 p.m. at PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
“This is going to be a big game as we aim for the quarters. We’re going all out on this one,’’ said Chai Troncoso, the team’s catalyst in hurdling a formidable hump in Pool A of the play-in tournament.
After pulling off a stunning five-set win over the Cignal HD Spikers on Tuesday, the Thunderbelles can finally clinch an elusive berth in the best-of-three final eight, the end to a first year of mediocrity that saw them finish last in the 12-team field in the All-Filipino and Reinforced Conferences.
While ZUS comes into the game filled with playoff motivation, Capital1 will have to find that somewhere else as a win—either in three, four or five sets—will create a three-way tie for top spot in their pool, but won’t have the Solar Spikers advancing.
Instead, it will be the idle HD Spikers who will get a free ride into the playoffs.
Mounting pressure
“We need to get this one first against Capital1 and again work our way in the next round,’’ said Chinnie Arroyo, who top-scored with 15 points in a 31-29, 25-15, 25-15 victory over the Solar Spikers the first time they met on Jan. 25. Trancoso contributed 12 points in that game.
Backing them up in the middle and providing defensive length is Thea Gagate, while the seasoned Jovelyn Gonzaga has been likewise keeping the Thunderbelles steady in the face of mounting pressure.
They encountered such mental weight in the fourth set when the HD Spikers rose from a deep 12-3 hole and turned everything around.
“After we lost the fourth set, our coaches and [Gonzaga] gathered us and told us to forget the [first] four sets,” Troncoso, who scored 21 points against her former team, said. “What’s important was to get the fifth set.”
In the other bracket of the play-in, the Chery Tiggo Crossovers swept Pool B and advanced to the quarterfinals versus top-seed and defending champion Creamline, rendering the 4 p.m. collision between the Farm Fresh Foxies and Nxled Chameleons immaterial.
“I’m very proud of this team. But for now, we still have a long way to go. There’s potential and we will work on our game,’’ said ZUS Coffee coach Jerry Yee.
