Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
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.
| Short name | Zus Coffee |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Thunderbelles |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Owner | Strong Group Athletics |
| Head coach | Jerry Yee |
| Captain | Dolly Verzosa (JRU) |
| League | Premier Volleyball League |
| 2024 All-Filipino | 12th place |
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 resolved 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
- Strong Group Athletics (2024 All-Filipino)
- Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (2024 Reinforced Invitational–present)
Current roster
| Zus Coffee Thunderbelles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Birth date | School |
| 1 | Valiza Fornilos | Opposite Spiker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | January 22, 2002 | ADMU |
| 2 | Jana Sta. Maria | Universal | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | August 12, 1996 | UE |
| 3 | Melanie Romero | Libero | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | July 16, 1996 | CSB |
| 4 | Jean Licauco | Libero | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | May 18, 2001 | ADMU |
| 5 | Noheli Cerdeña | Middle Blocker | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | January 15, 1999 | UPSHD |
| 6 | Sarah Verutiao | Setter | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | April 25, 1996 | AU |
| 7 | Justine Rebleza | Outside Hitter | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | November 27, 1998 | FEU |
| 8 | Javen Sabas | Outside Hitter | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | January 31, 1999 | PUP |
| 9 | Chumcee Caole | Setter | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | July 19, 1998 | EC |
| 11 | Sheeka Espinosa | Opposite Spiker | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | August 26, 1996 | TIP |
| 12 | Vira Guillema | Setter | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | May 9, 1995 | SSC–R |
| 13 | Jan Angeli Cane | Outside Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | January 28, 2001 | ADMU |
| 14 | Dolly Versoza (C) | Outside Hitter | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | March 10, 1998 | JRU |
| 15 | Souzan Raslan | Opposite Spiker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | January 1, 1995 | CDSL |
| 17 | Mary Joy Onofre | Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | May 28, 1997 | LPU |
| 18 | Grenlen Malapit | Middle Blocker | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | August 18, 1997 | LPU |
| 19 | Nikkie Baldizanso | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | February 16, 2002 | UP |
| 20 | Lilet Mabbayad | Middle Blocker | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | September 16, 1987 | UST |
| 22 | Merry Rose Jauculan | Universal | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | August 11, 2000 | UST |
| Michelle Gamit | Middle Blocker | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | Benilde | ||
| Jade Gentapa | Outside Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | Benilde | ||
| Gayle Pascual | Opposite Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | September 3, 1999 (age 24) | Benilde | |
| Cloanne Mondoñedo | Setter | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | November 16, 2000 | Benilde | |
| Asaka Tamaru (I) | Opposite Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | August 4, 1998 | Kyoto Sangyo University | |
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Previous roster
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Honors
| Season | Conference | Title | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | All-Filipino | 12th place | [12] |
| Reinforced Invitational |
Team captains
- Dolly Verzosa (2024–present)
References
- "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.
- 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.
- "Kurashiki's Asaka Tamaru to strengthen Zus Coffee". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
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