MANILA — Despite an inspiring performance that pushed defending champions Creamline to the brink, Zus Coffee head coach, Rico Mondoledo, expressed his regret after their heartbreaking five-set loss to the Cool Smashers in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Thursday afternoon at the PhilSports Arena. In a dramatic and emotional showdown, Mondoledo’s Thunderbelles fell short, losing 25-22, 28-30, 26-24, 17-25, 15-13, despite giving Creamline all they could handle.

“We tried our best. We gave it our all, but we just needed a little more luck,” Mondoledo said in a post-match interview, his voice tinged with disappointment. “The girls played their hearts out today, and I couldn’t be prouder of how they fought. It was just one of those matches where we had the chance, but we couldn’t close it out.”

A Strong Challenge, but Missed Opportunities

The match was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams. Creamline, boasting a perfect 3-0 record going into the game, found themselves tested like never before by a resilient and fearless Zus Coffee squad. The Thunderbelles came out strong, especially in the second and fourth sets, capitalizing on a few lapses by the Cool Smashers. Despite being underdogs, Zus Coffee refused to back down, even leading 2-1 in sets after a dominant showing in the fourth frame.

However, it was in the final stretch that Creamline, led by the brilliance of Alyssa Valdez, Bernadeth Pons, and Jema Galanza, found their composure and narrowly edged out their opponents. After a tight fifth set, the Cool Smashers sealed the victory 15-13, but it was clear that Mondoledo’s side had pushed them to their limits.

“It’s frustrating, because we were so close. There were moments in the match when we were just a point away from turning things around, but in the end, they made the plays when it mattered most,” Mondoledo added. “Our defense and blocking were solid for most of the match, and our offense was working, but sometimes you need that little bit of luck to break your way.”

A Balanced Attack, but Missed Breakthroughs

The match was a testament to how far Zus Coffee has come as a team. Five players scored in double digits, with Kate Santiago leading the charge with 19 points, followed by Thea Gagate’s 15. Zus Coffee also showcased their defensive strength, recording 11 blocks as a team, with Santiago contributing five rejections. Despite these stats, Mondoledo pointed to missed opportunities at critical moments as the reason for their loss.

“In key moments, there were small mistakes—miscommunications, a missed serve, or an attack error—that turned the momentum back in Creamline’s favor,” Mondoledo explained. “We didn’t execute as well as we should have when the game was on the line.”

The Thunderbelles had a golden opportunity to take the match into their hands after Creamline faltered in the fourth set. But despite taking an 11-9 lead in the fifth and forcing several deadlocks, Zus Coffee couldn’t find the decisive blow. Mondoledo praised his team for their resilience, particularly in Set 2 when they fought back from 24-22 down to take the set, but the mistakes in the clutch moments proved too costly.

Learning from the Loss

Despite the frustration of the defeat, Mondoledo remained optimistic about the lessons his team could take from the match. He highlighted the mental toughness and resilience that Zus Coffee displayed, which would serve them well moving forward in the tournament.

“We know we have the potential to compete with the best teams in the league. We just need to keep learning, stay focused, and continue building that mental toughness,” Mondoledo said. “Today, we showed that we can stand toe-to-toe with a team like Creamline. It’s just a matter of closing those gaps and making the most of every opportunity.”

The loss dropped Zus Coffee to 2-2 in the standings, while Creamline improved to 4-0, tying Cignal HD at the top. Despite the defeat, Mondoledo expressed pride in his team’s growth and performance.

Creamline’s Resilience

Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez acknowledged that Zus Coffee had been a tough opponent, especially after their sluggish start to the match. Valdez, who finished with 17 points alongside Pons, praised her team for staying composed under pressure, especially after nearly losing the match in Set 4.

“Zus Coffee really gave us a hard time today, and we knew it was going to be a battle,” said Valdez. “We made some mistakes, but I think we just stayed mentally tough, and we were able to execute when we needed to.”

Despite the win, Creamline’s performance was far from perfect, as they committed 33 unforced errors and struggled with receiving at times, which gave the Thunderbelles momentum. But in the end, it was the Cool Smashers’ experience and composure that allowed them to pull out the victory.

Looking Ahead

For Mondoledo and the Thunderbelles, the defeat serves as both a learning experience and a challenge to continue improving. While their performance showed promise, there is still much work to be done if they hope to consistently challenge the league’s elite teams. With a young and talented squad, the Thunderbelles are determined to use this heart-wrenching loss as fuel to push forward.

“There’s still a long way to go in this tournament,” Mondoledo said, his voice steady despite the disappointment. “We’ll learn from this, keep working hard, and come back stronger. I have no doubt about that.”

As the league heads into the new year, Zus Coffee will be looking to bounce back from this tough loss and continue their growth as a team. If today’s performance is any indication, they’re on the right path to becoming a major contender in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.

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