Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
 | |
| Short name | Zus Coffee |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Thunderbelles |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Owner | Strong Group Athletics |
| Head coach | Jerry Yee |
| Captain | Cloanne Mondoñedo |
| League | Premier Volleyball League |
| 2024 Reinforced | 12th place |
The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (stylized as ZUS Coffee) are a professional women's volleyball team in the Philippines that made their team debut in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference under the name Strong Group.
Strong Group Athletics of Frank Lao also backs the Farm Fresh Foxies of the PVL. The Thunderbelles are currently named after Malaysian-based coffee chain Zus Coffee, a brand which Lao is also an investor of.[1]
History
[edit]The Strong Group Athletics reportedly helped Premier Volleyball League club Quezon City Gerflor Defenders resolve its player salary issue[2] which was first reported in November 2023, during the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference.[3][4][5] Gerflor would be effectively disbanded after the tournament.[6]
In January 2023, it was announced that the Strong Group would be taking over Gerflor's franchise. It was Strong Group's second PVL team, the first being the Farm Fresh Foxies.[2][7] They made their PVL debut at the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.[8] Interim coach Rogelio Getigan led the team under the name "Strong Group Athletics" in their first tournament.[9][10]
In May 2024 in the lead up to the Reinforced Invitational Conference, Strong Group rebranded as Zus Coffee Thunderbelles and will take effect at the upcoming PVL conference after made a partnership with Zus Coffee. The team also announced coach Jerry Yee as the new head coach.[11]
Names
[edit]- Strong Group Athletics (2024 All-Filipino)
- Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (2024 Reinforced–present)
Current roster
[edit]| Zus Coffee Thunderbelles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Birth date | School |
| 1 |  Michelle Gamit | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | May 9, 2000 | Benilde |
| 3 | Thea Gagate | Middle Blocker | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | July 6, 2000 | DLSU |
| 6 | Julia Angeles | Libero | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | September 1, 1998 | Letran |
| 7 | Jade Gentapa | Outside Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | November 28, 2000 (age 23) | Benilde |
| 8 | Cloanne Mondoñedo (C) | Setter | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | November 16, 2000 | Benilde |
| 9 | Gayle Pascual | Opposite Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | September 3, 1999 (age 24) | Benilde |
| 10 | Dolly Versoza | Outside Hitter | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | March 10, 1998 | JRU |
| 11 | Jenina Marie Zeta | Libero | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) | November 12, 1999 | UE |
| 13 | Sharya Ancheta | Middle Blocker | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | November 25, 1999 | AdU |
| 14 | Jaycel Delos Reyes | Middle Blocker | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | July 14, 1999 | Ateneo |
| 16 | Nikka Yandoc | Setter | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | January 10, 2000 | AdU |
| 17 | Mary Joy Onofre | Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | May 28, 1997 | LPU |
| 21 | Jovelyn Gonzaga | Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | October 31, 1991 | CPU |
| 22 | Ypril Tapia | Outside Hitter | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | December 15, 2001 | UST |
| Danivah Sheilo Aying | Outside Hitter | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | USJ-R | ||
| Glaudine Troncoso | Outside Hitter | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | October 13, 1997 | CPU | |
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Previous roster
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Honors
[edit]Team
[edit]| Season | Conference | Title | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | All-Filipino | 12th place | [12] |
| Reinforced | 12th place | [13] | |
| 2024-25 | All-Filipino | TBD |
Individual
[edit]| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Reinforced | Rookie of the Conference | Shayra Ancheta | [14] |
Team captains
[edit]Head coach
[edit]Imports
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Philippine's billionaire Frank Lao buys 35% stake in Malaysian coffee shop Zus". The Star. Star Media Group Bhd. March 22, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Dannug, Jonash (January 13, 2024). "SGA takes over Gerflor in PVL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ "PVL probes Gerflor over allegations of delayed salaries, mistreatment". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Times, Tiebreaker (November 9, 2023). "PVL puts Gerflor under investigation". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Agcaoili, Lance (November 9, 2023). "Gerflor team playing through low morale in PVL amid financial woes". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
- ^ Dukha, Angel III (December 31, 2023). "Acaylar, disbanded Gerflor squad await their fates". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ "Strong Group joins PVL, takes over Gerflor franchise". GMA News. January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ Garcia, John Mark (February 21, 2024). "Versoza thankful to SGA for giving PVL chance to players 'without connections'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "Jerry Yee takes helm, picks up Benilde seniors to form Zus Coffee". Tiebreaker Times. May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ Bautista, Ohmer (February 15, 2024). "PVL: SGA tempers expectations with All-Filipino Conference lineup". One Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ "PVL: Strong Group rebrands as Zus Coffee Thunderbelles and with Jerry Yee as new coach". One Sports. May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
- ^ "Akari cruises past Strong Group, finishes 7th". Premier Volleyball League. April 27, 2024. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
- ^ "Creamline clinches No.3 seed, clobbers ZUS Coffee". Premier Volleyball League. August 22, 2024. Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ Demigillo, Kiko (September 4, 2024). "'MVPons' finally real as Bernadeth Pons takes home PVL Reinforced Conference MVP and Finals MVP honors". One Sports. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ "Kurashiki's Asaka Tamaru to strengthen Zus Coffee". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
