ZUS Coffee is for real. And with the Thunderbelles brewing their finest volleyball to date, they now stand just one game away from completing an improbable transformation – from last season’s expansion hopefuls to a legitimate contender on the brink of a fairy-tale championship.

What was once a team defined by potential has swiftly become one powered by conviction. Behind a prolific import, a tireless local unit that continues to outdo itself, and a reserved yet razor-sharp coach whose calm presence anchors the entire roster, the Thunderbelles have accelerated their evolution far sooner than anyone anticipated.

This is no longer a feel-good story about promise, but a full-blown rise to PVL powerhouse status.

Their latest masterpiece – a clinical sweep of the PLDT High Speed Hitters – 25-22, 28-26, 25-22 – Thursday night at the Araneta Coliseum, a performance carved with the signature grit and polish that have defined their stunning Reinforced Conference campaign.

That they dismantled a PLDT squad previously poised to chase a rare season sweep only magnifies the magnitude of their ascent.

With the decisive victory, ZUS Coffee has earned a seat at the grand table: a one-game championship showdown against the Petro Gazz Angels on Sunday at the Big Dome.

At the center of ZUS Coffee’s perfect blend is Anna DeBeer, the conference’s second-leading scorer behind Capital1’s Sasha Bytsenko – and the undeniable engine of the Thunderbelles’ run. She erupted for 19 points in the first two sets alone, eventually finishing the one-hour, 35-minute victory with another monstrous 30-point performance in a no-tomorrow match that demanded nothing less than her fiercest form.

“This is just so awesome for our program. To be here – I’m so thankful. And to make history for ZUS Coffee… I know we still have so much more to give, and I can’t wait for Sunday,” said DeBeer, eager and determined as she looks ahead to a championship showdown with the two-time champion the Petro Gazz Angels in just two days.

DeBeer’s power, timing and sheer force overwhelmed the once-vaunted PLDT wall – the same net defense that had anchored the High Speed Hitters’ title runs in both the PVL On Tour and the Invitational.

The heavy-hitting American, in her first overseas foray, opened the night in full command, dropping 13 points in the first frame, including a flurry of clutch hits that pushed ZUS Coffee to set point at 24-21. Chinnie Arroyo hammered the door shut with a blistering through-the-block finish, setting the tone for what would become a night of relentless execution.

In the extended second set, when tension thickened and errors carried heavier consequences, DeBeer once again brought her killer instinct to the fore – rifling back-to-back hits to end the set 28-26 after AC Miner forced a deadlock.

Moments like these have defined her conference – the ability to rise, steady and deliver when everything hangs in the balance.

But brilliance alone doesn’t brew a championship run. ZUS Coffee’s locals have been nothing short of exceptional.

Setter Cloanne Mondonedo crafted one of the finest games of her season, delivering 18 excellent sets. Her masterful orchestration didn’t just spotlight DeBeer – it activated the entire offensive mix, pulling PLDT’s once-unshakeable defensive schemes apart piece by piece. Through her hands flowed rhythm, balance and direction.

Arroyo, stepping into her role with perfect timing, complemented DeBeer with an inspired 18-point outing. Her aggression at the net, impeccable spacing, and timely hits provided the secondary punch that PLDT never found answers for.

She finished with 14 points while Thea Gagate and Miner combined for 11 markers.

Every local contribution – every dig, every hustle play, every steady reception – strengthened the Thunderbelles’ surge, turning them from an exciting upstart into a fully cohesive contender.

Two sets up and brimming with momentum, ZUS Coffee opened Set 3 with the first three points – an early signal of another momentum-driven onslaught. DeBeer fired away with near-reckless confidence, Arroyo played like a woman on a mission, and the Thunderbelles broke away to a 16-10 lead they never relinquished.

PLDT, stunned and outmaneuvered, could no longer find the composure that had powered its runs all season. And while coach Rald Ricafort searched for adjustments, the Thunderbelles simply stayed in control – precise, fearless, and unbothered by the stakes.

PLDT managed to fight back after a Mika Reyes putaway off a ZUS Coffee overpass, but that only leveled the score at 21. And for anyone who expected the inexperienced Thunderbelles to crumble under pressure, DeBeer stepped forward to make it clear who was really in command.

She delivered back-to-back hits to give ZUS Coffee a two-point cushion. And even when Savi Davison wasted no time drilling a first-ball kill to pull the High Speed Hitters within one, DeBeer answered again – unloading her 30th point of the night, a blow that surprised no one who had believed in her all along.

Nastya Bavykina scored 16 points while Davison finished with 15 for PLDT, which settled for a bronze medal duel with Akari.

Veteran Jovelyn Gonzaga dropped to the floor after DeBeer’s final hit, exhaling in equal parts relief and triumph. The Thunderbelles erupted in celebration – rejoicing in a victory that they, more than anyone else, had seen coming from the start.

From expansion team to legitimate title threat, ZUS Coffee has arrived. What began as a campaign built on promise is now just a heartbeat away from culminating in something tangible – something lasting.

On Sunday, the Thunderbelles aim to complete their improbable story. Only one game stands between them and the ultimate brew – a PVL championship.