Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
Filipino women's volleyball team
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The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (stylized as ZUS Coffee) are a professional women's volleyball team in the Philippines competing in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). The team is owned by Strong Group Athletics, founded by Frank Lao, who has a stake in the Malaysian-based coffee chain Zus Coffee.[1]
 2026–27 Zus Coffee Thunderbelles season | |
| |
| Short name | Zus Coffee |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Thunderbelles |
| Founded | 2024 |
| Owner | Strong Group Athletics |
| Head coach | Jerry Yee |
| Captain | Cloanne Mondoñedo |
| League | Premier Volleyball League |
| 2026 All-Filipino | 10th place |
The team made their team debut in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference under the name Strong Group Athletics following the organization's take over of the Quezon City Gerflor Defenders franchise. The Thunderbelles are one of two teams owned by SGA, the other being the Farm Fresh Foxies.
History
Background
During the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, the Quezon City Gerflor Defenders were put under investigation by the league due to financial issues.[2][3][4] The roster's unpaid salaries were eventually settled by Strong Group Athletics, backers of the Farm Fresh Foxies. On January 13, 2024, it was announced that the organization would take over the Gerflor franchise beginning with the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season, and were established as the organization's second team after Farm Fresh.[5][6] The day after, SGA founder Frank Lao announced that the team will be named Strong Group Athletics, following the success of the eponymous basketball team.[7]
First seasons
They made their PVL debut at the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, with Rogelio Getigan named as the team's first head coach.[8][9][10]
In May 27, 2024, the team announced that it would rebrand to the Zus Coffee Thunderbelles following Strong Group Athletics' partnership with Zus Coffee, a Malaysian coffee brand in which Lao has a stake in. They also announced that Jerry Yee, head coach of the Benilde Lady Blazers volleyball team, would succeed Getigan as head coach beginning with the 2024 Reinforced conference.[11] On June 24, Zus Coffee won the first overall pick in the inaugural PVL draft lottery,[12] which they used to select Thea Gagate during the 2024 Premier Volleyball League draft.[13]
In the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference, the Thunderbelles reached the quarterfinals for the first time. The team won the first match of the best-of-three series against the Petro Gazz Angels, but lost the next two and were eliminated.[14] Zus Coffee reached their first ever PVL finals at the 2025 Reinforced Conference.[15][16] They lost the bid for a tournament title against the Petro Gazz Angels.[17]
Names
- Strong Group Athletics (2024 All-Filipino)
- Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (2024 Reinforced–present)
Current roster
| Zus Coffee Thunderbelles roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Nat. | Player | Pos. | Height | DOB | From |
| 1 |  |
Mycah Go | Libero | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | April 15, 2002 | St. Benilde |
| 2 | |
Chenae Basarte | Setter | 170 m (558 ft) | December 9, 2001 | St. Benilde |
| 5 | |
Glaudine Troncoso | Opposite Hitter | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | October 13, 1997 | Central Philippine |
| 7 | |
Cess Robles | Outside Hitter | 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) | June 7, 1997 | National-U |
| 8 | |
Jovelyn Gonzaga | Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | October 31, 1991 | Central Philippine |
| 9 | |
Kate Santiago | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | January 26, 2002 | Adamson |
| 10 | |
Chinnie Arroyo | Outside Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | May 19, 2001 | National-U |
| 11 | |
Wielyn Estoque | Outside Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | April 8, 2001 | St. Benilde |
| 12 | |
Zam Nolasco | Middle Blocker | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | April 30, 2004 | St. Benilde |
| 13 | |
Rachel Daquis | Outside Hitter | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | December 13, 1987 | Far Eastern |
| 14 | |
Alyanna Ong | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | February 22, 2003 | Mapúa |
| 15 | |
AC Miner | Opposite Hitter | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | January 21, 2003 | Ateneo |
| 16 | |
Alyssa Eroa | Libero | 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) | September 6, 1996 | San Sebastian |
| 17 | |
Fiola Ceballos | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | June 21, 1994 | Central Philippine |
| 18 | |
Jolina Dela Cruz | Outside Hitter | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | September 5, 1999 | De La Salle |
| 19 | |
Riza Nogales | Middle Blocker | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | December 3, 2002 | UE |
| 21 | |
Cloanne Mondoñedo (C) | Setter | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | November 16, 2000 | St. Benilde |
| 24 | |
Chie Saet | Setter | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) | November 24, 1984 | De La Salle |
| 25 | |
Karen Verdeflor | Libero | 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) | September 24, 2000 | Adamson |
| Updated as of: July 31, 2026 | Source: PVL.ph | ||||||
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Coaching staff
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Team staff
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Medical staff
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Season-by-season records
| Season | Conference | Preliminary round | Final round | Ranking | Source |
| 2024–25 (team) |
All-Filipino | 12th (0–11, 0 pts) | Did not qualify | 12th place | [18] |
| Reinforced | 12th (0–8, 0 pts) | Did not qualify | 12th place | [19] | |
| Invitational | Did not qualify | ||||
| All-Filipino | 9th (4–7, 14 pts) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. Petro Gazz, 1–2[a] | 7th place | [20] | |
| 2025–26 (team) |
PVL on Tour | 5th (2–3, 7 pts) (Pool A) | Lost in quarterfinals vs. PLDT, 0–3 | 7th place | [21] |
| Invitational[b] | 6th (0–5, 0 pts) | Did not qualify | 6th place | [22] | |
| Reinforced | 2nd (7–1, 20 pts) | Won in quarterfinals vs. Capital1, 3–0 Won in semifinals vs. PLDT, 3–0 Lost in championship vs. Petro Gazz, 1–3 |
Runner-up | [23] | |
| All-Filipino | 10th (1–8, 3 pts) | Lost in Play-in quarterfinal (Pool B) vs. Choco Mucho, 2–3 | 10th place | [24] | |
- Notes
- Best-of-three series.
- Despite not qualifying initially, Zus Coffee accepted the invitation to join the 2025 Invitational Conference.
Individual awards
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Team captains
Dolly Verzosa (2024)- Cloanne Mondoñedo (2024–present)
Head coach
Former players
- Caroline Santos
- Danivah Aying (2024)
- Dolly Versoza (2024-2025)
- Gayle Pascual (2024-2025)
- Jade Gentapa (2025–2026)
- Jenina Zeta (2024)
- Julia Angeles (2024-2025)
- Maika Ortiz
- Michelle Gamit (2024)
- Nikka Yandoc (2024)
- Renee Mabilangan
- Renee Penafiel (2025-2026)
- Shayra Ancheta (2024-2025)
Draft history
| Season | Pick No. | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | Thea Gagate |
| 13 | Shayra Ancheta | |
| 19 | Nikka Yandoc | |
| 22 | Jenina Zeta | |
| 2025 | 5 | AC Miner |
| 17 | Mycah Go | |
| 25 | Riza Nogales | |
| 28 | Angela Jackson | |
| 2026 | 4 | Alyanna Ong |
