By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Thursday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
4 p.m. – Cignal vs Chery Tiggo
6:30 p.m. – Capital1 vs Choco Mucho
ZUS Coffee recovered from a first-set stumble and turned back Nxled, 19-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15, to notch its first franchise victory on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Veteran spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga, who last suited up for Cignal last year, returned with a bang by firing 23 points built on 20 kills and three blocks to anchor the youth-laden squad to the winning column after fumbling their first assignment last week against the Akari Chargers in four sets.
“Antagal naming hinintay tong panalong to,” said skipper Cloanne Mondonedo as the victory also snapped their 19-game losing skid since debuting in the All-Filipino Conference last February.
Gonzaga, however, downplayed her individual performance and reiterated it was all team effort in the one-hour, 50-minute affair.
“Hindi lang naman ako ang nagtrabaho. As a whole, lahat nag-contribute. Credit din sa paikot ng tao ni Coach Jerry (Yee) at saka sa setter namin, talagang tinyaga niya,” said Gonzaga.
While everybody contributed a little of everything in the triumph — thanks to Mondonedo, who distributed the ball well with 17 excellent sets, top rookie draft pick Thea Gagate also shone with 16 points highlighted by 10 attacks and five blocks. Glaudine Troncoso, Michelle Gamit and Chinnie Arroyo, for their part, conspired for 20 points.
The Thunderbelles asserted their might in the fourth set when they zoomed to a commanding 14-4 lead. The Chameleons fought back to trim the deficit but eventually lost the steam, despite persistent efforts from Chiara Permentilla and Lucille Almonte.
Permentilla and Almonte finished with 19 and 12 points, respectively, in a losing cause for Nxled, which fell to their second straight defeat.
