Pressure is a privilege for the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in their bid to establish themselves as contenders in the PVL.
Ahead of their straight set win over the Capital1 Solar Spikers, the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles were on the losing end of back-to-back five-setters against the Creamline Cool Smashers and Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
On one hand, those games were proof of the Thunderbelles’ upside, as they took two of the PVL’s top contenders to their limits. But as with most young teams, these games also highlighted their core’s lack of high-level experience.
So as gruelling as those games were, head coach Jerry Yee knows that the Thunderbelles will grow the most from such high-pressure situations.
“Kumbaga dadaan kami sa mga ganong klaseng games para mag-grow, so happy ako na it came so early,” Yee said after ZUS Coffee’s 31-29, 25-15, 25-15 over the Solar Spikers.
“May mga stages talaga na dadaaanan ng isang team, and ayun na nga, nandiyan kami sa mga five-setters. We have to get over the hump para matuto, para maging mature, para mas maging better na team.”
You may recall that ZUS Coffee gave Creamline a scare last December 2024, nearly overcoming a 2-1 set deficit before the Cool Smashers closed things out by Set 5. ZUS Coffee nearly swept Choco Mucho last January 18, before Sisi Rondina and Dindin Santiago-Manabat led the Flying Titans’ late turnaround.
Top overall PVL Draft pick Thea Gagate shared similar thoughts with Yee, believing that high-pressure games like these will sharpen her and the team’s resolve moving forward.
“Thankful ako na nakapag-experience ako ng ganong level of games especially nung nagka-five setter kami both teams. Malaking bagay siya for me as a rookie and also ‘yung experience ko ng national team, kasi at least in that game, aware ako sa mga tendencies ng naging teammates ko nun,” the six-foot-two Gagate shared.
Getting over the hump, though, will be a different story for this ZUS Coffee crew. Sure, they’re no longer pushovers, but it’s still a team filled with relative newcomers to the professional volleyball circuit.
“Individually, kailangan mabuo ‘yung kumpyansa sa sarili, ‘yung mental game sobra, and as a team kailangan mag-jive lahat ‘yung timing ng isa’t isa. Hanggang ngayon, parang after the first set tsaka pa lang nakaka-adjust ng ilang plays namin, so it doesn’t end in any point talaga eh. You have to improve, you have to be better, you have to adjust,” reflected Yee.
While the road to maturity might become long and challenging, Yee knows that there’s no way but up for his ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the PVL. The pieces to contend are already there, and it’s now a process of unleashing their potential both individually and as one collective unit.
“Ganun talaga eh, ‘yun ‘yung aim ng lahat ng team: mag-improve, maging number one. And then kahit number one ka na, hindi pupwedeng stagnant ka lang, so you have to move forward always [with the] lessons, ups and downs,” Yee said.
“Paminsan nakakapagod, nakaka-frustrate, and then syempre, you look back and maraming positives na paghuhugutan. You can’t help but be happy with the team and parang kita mo na meron talagang i-improve pa.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.