Anna DeBeer has been a game-changer for ZUS Coffee, leading the Thunderbelles to their best-ever start in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
It is no secret who is powering ZUS Coffee to its best start in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
American import Anna DeBeer brings in the right blend of firepower and leadership, which translated to the Thunderbelles’ unbeaten run in the 2025 Reinforced Conference.
Showcasing superb performance consistently, the Kentucky native fueled ZUS Coffee to a 4-0 win-loss record in Pool B.
The Thunderbelles’ last victim was a complete and healthy Petro Gazz side, rising above the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference champions, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
DeBeer's 23-point match-high production that kept ZUS Coffee as the lone unscathed team in the tournament earned her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of October 28 to 31.
The 24-year-old outside spiker previously said she, together with the team, is aiming for the crown. And with a whole organization — from the management to staff members — backing her up, the sky is the limit for the Thunderbelles.
"Obviously, as a team, we want to win this thing. And we're going to try our best to get there," said DeBeer.
"I think that's why it's super exciting to be in an environment with such a great team, with great staff, and be around good people where it's fun to work hard every single day."
"So, I'm really just excited about getting better and seeing how far we can go," she added.
DeBeer edged out Akari's Annie Mitchem, Creamline's Courtney Schwan, Farm Fresh's Helene Rouss seaux, PLDT's Savannah Davison, and the closest competitor, Capital1's Oleksandra Bytsenkom, for the weekly plum deliberated by print and online reporters covering the pioneering professional volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.
As one of the shorter imports in the league, DeBeer is embracing a "height doesn't matter" mentality.
DeBeer previously played in the US NCAA Division I with the University of Louisville Cardinals, helping steer the squad to national championships.
"Obviously, I think in the U.S., we've kind of brought it out like height doesn't matter, so I really don't think about—I didn't even know I was one of the shorter ones, I guess," she said.
"But I think each game, I just work hard and try to work on the scout and try to figure out ways that we can get better from the last game."
Already competing for weeks on Philippine soil, DeBeer has noticed similarities in how the sport is played here and in the US.
"I think there's definitely some really good similarities. I think it's really scrappy and really competitive, and obviously that's how it is in the US," the American reinforcement said.
"I feel like everyone's making insane plays here, and that's what makes it exciting, and that's what makes the fans get so into it. Hearing them yell every point on some awesome plays that happen, that's a really cool part of it," she added.
As for the quiet but fiery coach Jerry Yee, he's satisfied to see DeBeer perform well, and it impacts the rest of the Thunderbelles.
"So siyempre, meron kaming sasandalan (referring to Anna). So ‘yung kumpyansa nabi-build, ‘yung skills lumalabas kapag meron kang teammate na ganiyan. Everybody is stepping up, especially Anna," said Yee.
ZUS Coffee is seeking to wrap up its pool phase run in the tournament, streamed live and on demand via the Pilipinas Live app and on www.pvl.ph, on a high note against Akari on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena — a replay of their nulled opening match played without reinforcements.