ILAGAN, ISABELA — ZUS Coffee is set to unveil three former Farm Fresh players when it opens its 2026 PVL on Tour campaign on Wednesday, but their arrival with the Thunderbelles was anything but a simple sister team transfer.
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Former Foxies Jolina dela Cruz, Zam Nolasco, and Chenae Basarte are all expected to make their first appearance for ZUS Coffee against Akari at the Capital Arena here, highlighting yet another round of player movement between the Strong Group Athletics stable-mates.
To be clear, none of the three switched teams through direct transfer, as league rules mandate.
Nolasco and Basarte's cases date back to 2023, when both were still playing for Benilde while reinforcing the Foxies.
The league had already turned professional by then, but the Rookie Draft wasn’t introduced until 2024, allowing graduating collegiate players to sign directly with clubs. That enabled the pair to suit up for Farm Fresh without going through the rookie selection process.
Dela Cruz's move, meanwhile, came after her Foxies contract supposedly expired, paving the way for ZUS Coffee to acquire the former La Salle winger and UAAP Season 85 best outside hitter, SPIN.ph learned.
Her switch follows a familiar setup between the sister clubs, with several players moving from one roster to the other after the expiration of their contracts rather than through outright transfers. Veteran Rachel Daquis is among those who previously took the same route.
New-look ZUS Coffee
Wednesday's opener will also give the Thunderbelles their first look at former Mapua middle blocker Nicole Ong, this year's No. 4 overall pick.
Ong is expected to become the first among league's 11-player draft class to see action thanks to the PVL on Tour's mandatory all-to-play rule, which requires all 14 players in uniform to play at least three rallies.
The preseason caravan will likewise mark the first full implementation of the league's experimental rules, including the two-point Premier Ball that was initially tested during the PVL All-Star Game last May.
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