ZUS Coffee celebrated a statement Game One win after throwing a block party on Petro Gazz in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference quarterfinals.
The seventh-seeded Thunderbelles shut the Angels out in the series opener with a whopping 11 blocks against their opponents' five.
Outside winger Chai Troncoso had the lion’s share of the herculean defensive effort with four blocks on top of rookie ace Thea Gagate’s three.
READ ZUS pulls upset from under Petro Gazz in big PVL upset
One thing ZUS Coffee head coach Jerry Yee considered to be an integral component of the team’s surprise resurgence this conference is to hone a fortress of middle blockers.
It’s because he holds the view that blocking is also a team’s first line of offense just as much as it is on defense.
“Blocking changes a lot eh. Mahihirapan yung kalaban pumalo, and then easier yung transition yung bola sa’min, (then we) convert it into offense,” Yee said.
“Malaking bagay talaga ang blocking, first line of offense (rin siya) — offense and defense. Nandiyan lang siya and sana maging consistent kami (dahil) it helps our game a lot.”
Mich Gamit, who took Player of the Game honors with her 10-piece, also reiterated how a sharper net defense turned ZUS Coffee’s fortunes around.
“Blocking talaga ‘yung winork on ko kasi sa last games, ‘yun ‘yung kulang sa’min. Thankful kasi meron siya today and hopefully sa next game din lalo,” Gamit said.
Yee also made sure to make the most of the tournament’s prolonged format, which has featured new competition rounds over roughly a six-month period.
Yee was able to make pivotal tweaks in various areas of the Thunderbelles' all-around game - blocking first and foremost - after losing seven of 11 prelims matches.
Surprise package
The end result was the league’s biggest surprise package yet.
‘Yung long format ng conference, nakakatulong sa isang bagong team tulad namin. It gives us a chance to work on our game, work on our plans, execute our plans,” Yee said.
“Buti na lang na as the tournament progresses, nag-iimprove yung chemistry at nag-iimprove din talaga yung maturity ng team.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
