ZUS Coffee moved within touching distance of a breakthrough PVL crown after punching its ticket to the Finals with a straight-sets victory over PLDT on Thursday night, Nov. 27, at the Araneta Coliseum. A squad once considered a long project is suddenly staring at a golden moment.

The Thunderbelles played with control and confidence throughout a match that showcased their late-season maturity. Their blend of a dominant import, fast-rising locals, and a program built on quiet precision has made them one of the league’s biggest revelations.

The sweep — 25-22, 28-26, 25-22 — ended PLDT’s attempt at a rare season sweep and set up a winner-take-all championship duel against Petro Gazz on Sunday at the Big Dome.

DeBeer delivers statement performance

Anna DeBeer powered ZUS Coffee with one of the most commanding outings of the conference. The explosive outside hitter torched PLDT early, piling up 19 points in the first two frames before closing the night with 30 — a performance that underscored her value in the biggest moments.

She fired 13 in the opening set, including crucial shots that created separation before Chinnie Arroyo sealed the frame with a clean swing. In the second set, with pressure escalating, DeBeer hammered consecutive kills to secure the 28-26 finish after PLDT forced a tie.

Her presence, timing, and ability to command the offense in tense stretches again tilted the match in ZUS Coffee’s favor.

Locals shine as ZUS Coffee stays composed

The Thunderbelles’ locals continued their strong rise behind setter Cloanne Mondonedo, whose 18 excellent sets unlocked every scoring lane and repeatedly disrupted PLDT’s defensive structure. Her steady orchestration brought rhythm when rallies turned long and chaotic.

Arroyo added an inspired 18-point effort, providing the extra scoring weight that kept PLDT scrambling. Thea Gagate and AC Miner combined for 11 as ZUS Coffee controlled the third-set tempo, racing ahead 16-10 before withstanding PLDT’s late push.

PLDT briefly equalized at 21 after a Mika Reyes kill, but ZUS Coffee refused to blink. DeBeer responded with two straight hits, and after Savi Davison trimmed the gap, she unloaded her 30th point to shut the door for good.

Nastya Bavykina finished with 16 while Davison scored 15 for PLDT, which now heads to a bronze match against Akari. The Thunderbelles, meanwhile, erupted in celebration — knowing only one match separates them from a championship that once felt far away.