PVL: Much-improved ZUS Coffee showing promise

ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles during a game against Chery Tiggo Crossovers in the PVL All-Filipino Conference.-MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — After a pair of winless stints, ZUS Coffee has emerged as a promising challenger in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference with the addition of veterans and No. 1 overall draft pick Thea Gagate.

Cloanne Mondoñedo and Mich Gamit, part of the franchise’s winless stints which included a 20-game losing streak, were relieved to finally see their team rise as the Thunderbelles earned their biggest win yet with a 25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20 win over Chery Tiggo on Thursday at Philsports Arena.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Happy po kami na nagbubunga yung tine-training namin araw araw and may mga resulta yung mga games namin and hindi nasasayang yung pagod. Kahit may mga losses kami mas OK yung performance namin compared sa mga past conferences,” said Gamit, who had 10 points.

READ: PVL: ZUS Coffee regains winning tough, sweeps Capital1

“Ginagawa ko lang yung mga tinuturo sa training and lumalabas sa games namin and nakikita naman po yung result and hindi po kami tumitigil sa trabaho namin,” she added.

Mondoñedo, fourth in the Best Setter race, is far from satisfied as the Thunderbelles aim for more this conference with Gagate and new players Jovelyn Gonzaga and Glaudine Troncoso.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Happy pero hindi naman sa isang win natatapos yung work namin. Move forward lang and trabaho lang,” said Mondoñedo, who dished out 17 excellent sets. “Iniisip namin talaga work lang kung manalo man kami today as long as may natututunan kami. Super proud and happy sa kinalabasan ng game kasi it’s a team effort.”

Mondoñedo and Gamit steered the College of Saint Benilde to a perfect “three-peat” run in the NCAA with coach Jerry Yee, looking to translate their success to the pros.

READ: PVL: Choco Mucho comes back to outlast ZUS Coffee

Yee won’t be satisfied with their latest achievements as a team as he calls for more consistency with three more elimination round games remaining against Petro Gazz on Tuesday next week, Cignal on February 13 at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, and PLDT on Feb. 22 in Iloilo.

“Wala na muna nu’ng mga proje-projections.  Ang dami pa naming wino-work on sa sarili namin. It’s about kung sino ‘yung nasa harap namin at kung paano kami mage-execute, kung paano kami magre-respond sa ganung situations,” Yee said.

Gamit agreed: “Hindi namin muna pinoproblema yung future. Basta kung ano muna yung game namin doon muna kami naka-focus and yun muna winowork on namin.”