MONTALBAN, Rizal — ZUS Coffee head coach Jerry Yee has long been known as a calm character in his years calling the shots in the college and pro ranks.
Upon learning at the last minute that his American import Anna DeBeer won’t be able to suit up just yet, the first thing Yee wanted to know what that if his team stood alone on that boat.
“Ang immediate reaction ko was to find out kung kami lang ba o lahat ba, hindi pa pwede, wala pa [imports],” Yee told SPIN.ph.
READ: ZUS bests Akari as they play All-Filipino in 'Reinforced' opener
He’d breathe a sigh of relief upon learning that all 12 teams were to be hit by the aftermath of the league’s impasse with the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF).
“Kung lahat naman hindi allowed, patas lang naman eh so walang problema. ‘Yan naman ‘yung rotation natin eh,” he added.
That import-less ordeal still resulted in a hard-earned 24-26, 25-23, 17-25, 26-24, 15-7 comeback win for the Thunderbelles over the Chargers.
Result aside, the extra experience of playing the PVL on Tour and Invitational as a last-minute replacement worked wonders for ZUS Coffee’s all-Filipino rotation.
Six of their locals hit double figures sans a foreign guest player — a feat that could be deemed too tall for a young team like the Thunderbelles.
“Difficult? Not really kasi kakagaling lang naman namin sa huling conference [na puro locals] nung Invitational,” Yee said.
“Ang pangit man na bigla kaming naisabak pero nakabuti sa amin kasi na-practice namin yung rotation.”
Hoping for the best
Albeit clouded by uncertainty, Yee sees an immediate resolution in the horizon that will soon green-light the 12 imports’ participation in the Reinforced Conference.
“Maayos naman na nila ‘yan kasi a few percent accomplished na. Hintayin nalang natin ‘yun, yung approval. Kami naman, wala lang, kung anong dumating, lalaban lang,” Yee said.
And when it comes to their six-feet, 24-year-old reinforcement who is the youngest of this year’s bunch, there’s plenty of holes she can fill once the impasse runs its course.
“Powerful player siya eh kahit maliit siya. ‘Yun ‘yung ina-expect namin. Marami kaming butas sa locals but then yun nga, ‘pag nandyan si Anna, mas marami kaming options,” he added.
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