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Filipino women's volleyball team
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]
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]
Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
No.
Player
Position
Height
Birth date
School
1
Michelle Gamit
Middle Blocker
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
(2000-05-09 ) May 9, 2000 (age 24)
Benilde
3
Thea Gagate
Middle Blocker
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
(2000-07-06 ) July 6, 2000 (age 24)
DLSU
4
Kate Santiago
Outside Hitter
1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
(2002-01-26 ) January 26, 2002 (age 22)
Adamson
5
Glaudine Troncoso
Outside Hitter
1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
(1997-10-13 ) October 13, 1997 (age 27)
CPU
6
Julia Angeles
Libero
1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
(1998-09-01 ) September 1, 1998 (age 26)
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)
(2000-11-16 ) November 16, 2000 (age 24)
Benilde
9
Gayle Pascual
Opposite Hitter
1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
September 3, 1999 (age 24)
Benilde
10
Chinnie Pia Arroyo
Outside Hitter
1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
(2001-05-19 ) May 19, 2001 (age 23)
NU
11
Jenina Marie Zeta
Libero
1.55 m (5 ft 1 in)
(1999-11-12 ) November 12, 1999 (age 25)
UE
12
Joan Narit
Middle Blocker
1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
(2000-12-04 ) December 4, 2000 (age 23)
Ateneo
13
Sharya Ancheta
Middle Blocker
1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
(1999-11-25 ) November 25, 1999 (age 24)
AdU
14
Dolly Versoza
Outside Hitter
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
(1998-03-10 ) March 10, 1998 (age 26)
JRU
16
Nikka Yandoc
Setter
1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
(2000-01-10 ) January 10, 2000 (age 24)
AdU
18
Danivah Sheilo Aying
Opposite Hitter
1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
USJ-R
21
Jovelyn Gonzaga
Opposite Hitter
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
(1991-10-31 ) October 31, 1991 (age 33)
CPU
22
Ypril Tapia
Outside Hitter
1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
(2001-12-15 ) December 15, 2001 (age 22)
UST
2024
Reinforced
Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
No.
Player
Position
Height
Birth date
School
1
Michelle Gamit
Middle Blocker
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
(2000-05-09 ) May 9, 2000 (age 24)
Benilde
3
Thea Gagate (NT)
Middle Blocker
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
(2000-07-06 ) July 6, 2000 (age 24)
DLSU
6
Julia Angeles
Libero
1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
(1998-09-01 ) September 1, 1998 (age 26)
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)
(2000-11-16 ) November 16, 2000 (age 24)
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)
(1998-03-10 ) March 10, 1998 (age 26)
JRU
11
Jenina Marie Zeta
Libero
5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
(1999-11-12 ) November 12, 1999 (age 25)
UE
13
Sharya Ancheta
Middle Blocker
1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
(1999-11-25 ) November 25, 1999 (age 24)
AdU
14
Jaycel Delos Reyes
Middle Blocker
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
(1999-07-14 ) July 14, 1999 (age 25)
Ateneo
15
Asaka Tamaru (I)
Outside Hitter
1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
(1998-08-04 ) August 4, 1998 (age 26)
Kyoto Sangyo University
16
Nikka Yandoc
Setter
1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
(2000-01-10 ) January 10, 2000 (age 24)
AdU
17
Mary Joy Onofre
Middle Blocker
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
(1997-05-28 ) May 28, 1997 (age 27)
LPU
22
Ypril Tapia
Outside Hitter
1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
(2001-12-15 ) December 15, 2001 (age 22)
UST
Danivah Sheilo Aying
Outside Hitter
1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
USJ-R
All-Filipino
Strong Group Athletics
No.
Player
Position
Height
Birth date
School
1
Valiza Fornilos
Opposite Spiker
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
(2002-01-22 ) January 22, 2002 (aged 22)
ADMU
2
Jana Sta. Maria
Universal
1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
(1996-08-12 ) August 12, 1996 (aged 27)
UE
3
Melanie Romero
Libero
1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
(1996-07-16 ) July 16, 1996 (aged 27)
CSB
4
Jean Licauco
Libero
1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
(2001-05-18 ) May 18, 2001 (aged 22)
ADMU
5
Noheli Cerdeña
Middle Blocker
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
(1999-01-15 ) January 15, 1999 (aged 25)
UPSHD
6
Sarah Verutiao
Setter
1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
(1996-04-25 ) April 25, 1996 (aged 27)
AU
7
Justine Rebleza
Outside Hitter
1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
(1998-11-27 ) November 27, 1998 (aged 25)
FEU
8
Javen Sabas
Outside Hitter
1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
(1999-01-31 ) January 31, 1999 (aged 25)
PUP
9
Chumcee Caole
Setter
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
(1998-07-19 ) July 19, 1998 (aged 25)
EC
10
Ayumi Furukawa
Opposite Spiker
1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
(1999-04-18 ) April 18, 1999 (aged 24)
ADMU
11
Sheeka Espinosa
Opposite Spiker
1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
(1996-08-26 ) August 26, 1996 (aged 27)
TIP
12
Vira Guillema
Setter
1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
(1995-05-09 ) May 9, 1995 (aged 28)
SSC–R
13
Jan Angeli Cane
Outside Hitter
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
(2001-01-28 ) January 28, 2001 (aged 23)
ADMU
14
Dolly Versoza (C )
Outside Hitter
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
(1998-03-10 ) March 10, 1998 (aged 25)
JRU
15
Souzan Raslan
Opposite Spiker
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
(1995-01-01 ) January 1, 1995 (aged 29)
CDSL
17
Mary Joy Onofre
Middle Blocker
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
(1997-05-28 ) May 28, 1997 (aged 26)
LPU
18
Grenlen Malapit
Middle Blocker
1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
(1997-08-18 ) August 18, 1997 (aged 26)
LPU
19
Nikkie Baldizanso
Middle Blocker
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
(2002-02-16 ) February 16, 2002 (aged 22)
UP
20
Lilet Mabbayad
Middle Blocker
1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
(1987-09-16 ) September 16, 1987 (aged 36)
UST
22
Merry Rose Jauculan
Universal
1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
(2000-08-11 ) August 11, 2000 (aged 23)
UST
Season
Conference
Award
Name
Ref.
2024
Reinforced
Rookie of the Conference
Shayra Ancheta
[ 14]
Dolly Verzosa (2024 )
Cloanne Mondoñedo (2024 –present)
^ "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 .