ZUS Coffee has already checked off a handful of bests and firsts in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
It posted a franchise-best 7-1 slate in the prelims, clinched its first-ever No. 2 seed, and even broke through with its maiden playoff win over Capital1 in the quarterfinals.
But nothing came close to what unfolded on a magical Thursday night that felt like a fever dream.
The Thunderbelles are headed to the finals for the very first time, just a year into their existence, after stunning PLDT with a sweep, 25-22, 28-26, 25-22, in the knockout semifinals.
READ: ZUS Coffee blanks PLDT to break through to first-ever finals
And while American import Anna DeBeer’s 30-point explosion powered the charge, what truly unlocked the performance was the team’s pressure-free approach.
Head coach Jerry Yee shared that with kind words, team owner Frank Lao kept ZUS Coffee wide awake yet cool, calm, and collected.
“In all honesty, si boss Frank, masayang-masaya na nasa semis kami. ’Yung messages niya sa’min: ‘No pressure, laro lang kayo, ok na kami, masaya na kami, malayo na ‘yung narating niyo,’” he shared.
“Pero kami, kung saan kami aabot, sige lang, push lang nang push. Ang laking kumpyansa na binibigay sa’min ni Anna, gumagaling ‘yung locals, gumagaling ‘yung buong team, and ito na ‘yung chance namin. Why not subukan, ‘di ba?”
Thunder, feeling thunder
For veteran spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga, those reminders gave the Thunderbelles the space to breathe, settle in, and simply play their brand of volleyball.
What made it even more meaningful was that the encouragement came straight from Lao himself, someone who backed them through both their struggles and breakthroughs from Day 1.
“Wala namang expectations. Actually, the day before ng laro namin, nag-message si tito Frank sa group namin. Sabi niya, ‘Ladies, proud na ako kasi nakapasok sa semis. Wala naman tayong expectations, pero dinala niyo ‘yung team sa semis,’” she said.
“Gusto niya lang talaga na mag-enjoy kami, and grabe ‘yung enjoyment namin kanina. Pinakita lang namin ‘yung talent, ‘yung skills, teamwork. Unexpected ‘yung outcome, so sobrang thankful.”
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