ZUS Coffee adds another key piece to their frontline by selecting middle blocker AC Miner.
It didn’t take long for the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles to solidify their frontline at the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft after selecting former Ateneo standout AC Miner at fifth overall.
On paper, ZUS Coffee now gains a solid middle blocking duo, with Miner guarding the frontline alongside last year’s first-overall pick and Alas Pilipinas mainstay Thea Gagate.
Gagate, a three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker, has lived up to the hype with ZUS Coffee, while the rookie Miner brings about her own prowess at the net mixed with a welcome shot of versatility.
“Syempre very excited ako maging teammate si Thea Gagate especially siya ‘yung last year’s first draft pick and also multiple awards sa UAAP, so excited ako to work with her,” Miner said of her upcoming partnership with Gagate, who is also a one-time UAAP champion with the DLSU Lady Spikers.
Miner joins a ZUS Coffee team that has steadily risen into contention, thanks to the entry of Gagate and veteran signings that include Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chai Troncoso complementing a core led by captain-setter Cloanne Mondoñedo.
The rejigged Thunderbelles managed to reach the conference quarterfinals during the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference, even pushing eventual champs Petro Gazz to the brink of elimination before bowing out.
Miner, though, is tempering her expectations, knowing that she must still re-adjust her play into the professional ranks. On top of this, she is also coming off a tough UAAP Season 87 campaign with Ateneo, where a promising roster was decimated by season-ending injuries.
“Siguro nothing is certain, ‘yun ‘yung natutunan ko sa Ateneo, especially with everything that’s happened [during her senior year]. And also coming into this team, I hope to rebuild also with the team, with the new staff and other players as well,” said Miner.
Apart from the former Ateneo standout, ZUS Coffee also snagged fellow star middle Riza Nogales during Sunday’s rookie draft along with NCAA Season 97 Most Valuable Player Mycah Go.
Former Best Libero Alyssa Eroa also leads ZUS Coffee’s newest batch of free agent pickups, which further strengthens their core heading into the PVL On Tour this July, and the Reinforced Conference later this year.
Banner images courtesy of Cas Aseoche and the Premier Volleyball League.