From bottom-dwellers to unbeaten contenders, ZUS Coffee's steady rebuild — powered by smart drafting and strong leadership — has turned the Thunderbelles into a legitimate PVL title threat.
Less than a year ago, ZUS Coffee was a team still finding its first-ever win in the PVL.
Now, the Thunderbelles are the only undefeated team left in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, emerging as one of the biggest dark horses of the tournament.
From enduring a 20-game losing skid to a team looking to break through in the title conversation, here’s how ZUS Coffee brewed a team ready for prime time.
Building from the ground up
The turning point came when ZUS Coffee drafted Thea Gagate as the first overall pick in the inaugural PVL Draft in 2024, getting the franchise centerpiece for the years to come.
The move gave the Thunderbelles an elite middle blocker to anchor their system on both ends of the court.
They doubled down during the 2024 offseason, acquiring veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chai Troncoso, Kate Santiago, and Chinnie Arroyo, bringing leadership and grit to the previously youthful roster.
[ALSO READ: Jovelyn Gonzaga finds joy in ZUS Coffee’s growing winning culture in PVL Reinforced]
Breaking the losing streak
ZUS Coffee’s patience finally paid off on November 19, 2024, when the Thunderbelles secured their first-ever franchise victory by defeating the Nxled Chameleons.
That win snapped their initial 20-game losing skid and became the spark that fueled the franchise’s resurgence.
The team built on that first win during the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, posting a respectable 4-7 record and earning a quarterfinal berth, which was a major improvement for a squad once anchored at the bottom of the standings.
[ALSO READ: How the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles brewed a PVL playoff team]
Smart drafting and veteran additions
The Thunderbelles continued their steady rise by drafting AC Miner (5th overall), Mycah Go (17th), and Riza Nogales (25th) in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft, adding size, youth, and versatility to their growing core.
In the 2025 offseason, ZUS Coffee made another splash by signing Maika Ortiz, Renee Mabilangan, and former Best Libero Alyssa Eroa, all veterans known for their stability and experience.
Their final piece of the puzzle came in the form of American import Anna DeBeer, who has since become one of the most prolific scorers in the Reinforced Conference.
[ALSO READ: ZUS Coffee’s Anna DeBeer embraces ‘height doesn’t matter’ mindset in impressive PVL debut]
The rise of a contender
Now sitting at 4-0, the Thunderbelles have taken down powerhouse teams like the Creamline Cool Smashers and Petro Gazz Angels, proving their readiness to compete among the PVL elite.
Still, the job is far from over for the Jerry Yee-led squad, but they are indeed one step closer to their ultimate goal.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.