Zus Coffee Thunderbelles

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Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
Short nameZus Coffee
NicknameThunderbelles
Founded2024
OwnerStrong Group Athletics
Head coachJerry Yee
CaptainCloanne Mondoñedo (Benilde)
LeaguePremier Volleyball League
2024 All-Filipino12th 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

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

Current roster

Main article: 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference
Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
No. Player Position Height Birth date School
1 Philippines Michelle Gamit Middle Blocker 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2000-05-09) May 9, 2000 (age 24) Benilde
2 Philippines Ypril Tapia Outside Hitter 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) (2001-12-15) December 15, 2001 (age 22) UST
3 Philippines Thea Gagate Middle Blocker 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) (2000-07-06) July 6, 2000 (age 24) DLSU
6 Philippines Julia Angeles Libero 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) (1998-09-01) September 1, 1998 (age 25) Letran
7 Philippines Jade Gentapa Outside Hitter 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) November 28, 2000 (age 23) Benilde
8 Philippines Cloanne Mondoñedo (C) Setter 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) (2000-11-16) November 16, 2000 (age 23) Benilde
9 Philippines Gayle Pascual Opposite Hitter 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) September 3, 1999 (age 24) Benilde
10 Philippines Dolly Versoza Outside Hitter 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (1998-03-10) March 10, 1998 (age 26) JRU
11 Philippines Jenina Marie Zeta Libero 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) (1999-11-12) November 12, 1999 (age 24) UE
13 Philippines Sharya Ancheta Middle Blocker 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) (1999-11-25) November 25, 1999 (age 24) AdU
14 Philippines Jaycel Delos Reyes Middle Blocker 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) (1999-07-14) July 14, 1999 (age 25) Ateneo
15 Japan Asaka Tamaru (I) Outside Hitter 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1998-08-04) August 4, 1998 (age 25) Kyoto Sangyo University
16 Philippines Nikka Yandoc Setter 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) (2000-01-10) January 10, 2000 (age 24) AdU
17 Philippines Mary Joy Onofre Middle Blocker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1997-05-28) May 28, 1997 (age 27) LPU

Previous roster

2024
All-Filipino
Main article: 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference
Strong Group Athletics
No. Player Position Height Birth date School
1 Philippines Valiza Fornilos Opposite Spiker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (2002-01-22)January 22, 2002 (aged 22) ADMU
2 Philippines Jana Sta. Maria Universal 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) (1996-08-12)August 12, 1996 (aged 27) UE
3 Philippines Melanie Romero Libero 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1996-07-16)July 16, 1996 (aged 27) CSB
4 Philippines Jean Licauco Libero 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (2001-05-18)May 18, 2001 (aged 22) ADMU
5 Philippines Noheli Cerdeña Middle Blocker 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) (1999-01-15)January 15, 1999 (aged 25) UPSHD
6 Philippines Sarah Verutiao Setter 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) (1996-04-25)April 25, 1996 (aged 27) AU
7 Philippines Justine Rebleza Outside Hitter 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1998-11-27)November 27, 1998 (aged 25) FEU
8 Philippines Javen Sabas Outside Hitter 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) (1999-01-31)January 31, 1999 (aged 25) PUP
9 Philippines Chumcee Caole Setter 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (1998-07-19)July 19, 1998 (aged 25) EC
10 PhilippinesJapan Ayumi Furukawa Opposite Spiker 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) (1999-04-18)April 18, 1999 (aged 24) ADMU
11 Philippines Sheeka Espinosa Opposite Spiker 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1996-08-26)August 26, 1996 (aged 27) TIP
12 Philippines Vira Guillema Setter 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) (1995-05-09)May 9, 1995 (aged 28) SSC–R
13 Philippines Jan Angeli Cane Outside Hitter 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2001-01-28)January 28, 2001 (aged 23) ADMU
14 Philippines Dolly Versoza (C) Outside Hitter 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (1998-03-10)March 10, 1998 (aged 25) JRU
15 Philippines Souzan Raslan Opposite Spiker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1995-01-01)January 1, 1995 (aged 29) CDSL
17 Philippines Mary Joy Onofre Middle Blocker 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1997-05-28)May 28, 1997 (aged 26) LPU
18 Philippines Grenlen Malapit Middle Blocker 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) (1997-08-18)August 18, 1997 (aged 26) LPU
19 Philippines Nikkie Baldizanso Middle Blocker 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2002-02-16)February 16, 2002 (aged 22) UP
20 Philippines Lilet Mabbayad Middle Blocker 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) (1987-09-16)September 16, 1987 (aged 36) UST
22 Philippines Merry Rose Jauculan Universal 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (2000-08-11)August 11, 2000 (aged 23) UST

Honors

Season Conference Title Source
2024 All-Filipino 12th place [12]
Reinforced [to be determined]

Team captains

  • Philippines Dolly Verzosa (2024)
  • Philippines Cloanne Mondoñedo (2024 - present)

Head coach

Imports

References

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ a b Dannug, Jonash (January 13, 2024). "SGA takes over Gerflor in PVL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "PVL probes Gerflor over allegations of delayed salaries, mistreatment". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Times, Tiebreaker (November 9, 2023). "PVL puts Gerflor under investigation". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (November 9, 2023). "Gerflor team playing through low morale in PVL amid financial woes". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Dukha, Angel III (December 31, 2023). "Acaylar, disbanded Gerflor squad await their fates". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Strong Group joins PVL, takes over Gerflor franchise". GMA News. January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Jerry Yee takes helm, picks up Benilde seniors to form Zus Coffee". Tiebreaker Times. May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Bautista, Ohmer (February 15, 2024). "PVL: SGA tempers expectations with All-Filipino Conference lineup". One Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "PVL: Strong Group rebrands as Zus Coffee Thunderbelles and with Jerry Yee as new coach". One Sports. May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ "Kurashiki's Asaka Tamaru to strengthen Zus Coffee". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
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