The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles. PVL Media Bureau

MANILA, Philippines – After posing a threat to second-seeded and veteran team Petro Gazz, Zus Coffee proved that it has a lot to offer in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).

And that didn't go unnoticed, as Petro Gazz ace Brooke Van Sickle praised the rise of the Thunderbelles in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

READ: PVL: Petro Gazz ousts Zus Coffee, completes Final 4 cast

Although it was the Angels who emerged with the win, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, Van Sickle said that as a spiker, she was challenged by the Thunderbelles' defense.

"Zus [Coffee] is a fantastic team. I'm really excited to just, every conference that goes by, they're just getting better and better and it's really cool to see," said Van Sickle during the post-match interview.

"I keep saying this — I think they're one of the better teams of defense. They're so scrappy and they just have this attitude when it comes to defense," she added.

READ: PVL: Zus Coffee pulls off massive upset vs Petro Gazz in Game 1 of quarters

"As a hitter, it's hard. It's hard playing them because they're just gonna dig the ball and you just don't know if they're just gonna ping it back over. And it's really cool and hard as a hitter."

Van Sickle said she hopes to be inspired — including the rest of the league — by Zus Coffee's persistent retaliation.

READ: PVL: Jonah Sabete immediately makes presence felt in return for Petro Gazz

"That's awesome and I hope that inspires the rest of PVL like, 'hey, for us, we're like, well, we have to match their defense.' So, it pushes us in ways that are really awesome."

READ: PVL: Petro Gazz avenges upset loss vs Zus Coffee in QF opener, forces decider

Zus Coffee secured its best outing yet, finishing 7th place this conference. In contrast, the Thunderbelles concluded their first two conferences at the bottom in 12th place.

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