Onyok Getigan stepped up in Jerry Yee's absence as ZUS Coffee finally broke through with a gritty five-set comeback win over Akari in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
With head coach Jerry Yee temporarily away for health reasons, ZUS Coffee needed a voice amid their ongoing campaign in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
That responsibility fell to lead assistant Onyok Getigan, who took charge as the Thunderbelles leaned on collective effort to grind out a five-set win over the Akari Chargers, 16-25, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, 15-12, on Thursday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.
Getigan acknowledged that the challenge went beyond game-day decisions, especially with Yee expected to be sidelined for at least a month.
"Dahil nga wala si coach Jerry, kailangan talaga mag-step up ako," Getigan said during the post-game press conference. "Sa training pa lang, lahat ng kailangang gawin, kailangan ipilit."
"Kahit sa actual game, minsan nakakalimutan pa rin ng players ‘yung mga reminders, so kailangan talagang paulit-ulit," he added.
Jerry Yee last coached ZUS Coffee during their 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference opener. | Photo: PVL
Facing early-season pressure after a 0-2 start, ZUS Coffee leaned on depth and timely substitutions—something Getigan pointed to as a key factor in snapping their skid.
"Dun nga sa mga players ng ZUS, kila Jov [Gonzaga], nag-step up lahat," he said. "'Yung palitan ng substitutions nag-work naman, kaya masaya talaga."
[ALSO READ: Jovelyn Gonzaga points to ZUS Coffee's 'reset' as key to first win in PVL All-Filipino]
The victory marked a turning point for the Thunderbelles, which had previously let close moments slip away.
Down two sets to one, ZUS Coffee showed renewed composure late in the fourth frame before carrying momentum into the deciding set.
Beyond the tactics, Getigan emphasized the emotional lift the win provided for the group as they ready themselves to face the Creamline Cool Smashers on Tuesday, February 17.
"Nakita niyo naman kanina, tuwang-tuwa sila," he said. "Nag-boost 'yung morale. Sa training namin, hindi talaga mawala 'yung dalawang talo, napag-uusapan pa rin minsan. Pero kailangan naming magtuloy—preparation para sa susunod na game."
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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.