IT took more than just luck for ZUS Coffee to produce a 2-1 start to the new PVL season after losing its first 20 games in the pro league.
READ: ZUS Coffee savors first back-to-back wins in franchise history
The not-so-secret formula is what new Thunderbelles head coach Jerry Yee coined as ‘higher-tier recruitment.’
Emerging as the first of such recruits? Yee himself.
New era brewing
When Yee was named ZUS Coffee’s new coach back in May concurrent to the team’s rebrand, it would become the first major move of the Frank Lao-owned squad to position itself strongly in the 12-team field.
Then came the inaugural PVL Draft where the Thunderbelles netted top-overall pick Thea Gagate, import-laden play’s rookie of the conference Sharya Ancheta, and Adamson playmaker Nikka Yandoc.
ZUS Coffee took its buildup another notch higher in the offseason with a quintet of prized signings.
Veteran spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga ended her year-long hiatus to make her league comeback with the Thunderbelles. She was followed by another ex-Cignal star like her in Chai Troncoso.
Shortly after, a controversial sister-team transaction was green-lit by the league which saw Farm Fresh trio Kate Santiago, Chinnie Arroyo and Joan Narit cross the fence to the other side of the Lao stable.
Sweet shots of talent
Take all those new Thunderbelles alongside its existing crop of former College of St. Benilde stars, you have yourself a young team with potential and a much-needed touch of experience.
Yee said their new recruits have been instant game-changers.
“Kapag may talent talaga, malaki ang difference. ‘Pag higher tier ‘yung recruits mo, malaking bagay,” the ZUS Coffee mentor said.
Gagate, for one, has been the clear-cut example.
“Thea will be Thea agad. Iba yung nandyan siya. Sa blocking and offense, may lamang ka na agad. Easier for us, easier for the team para mag-transition to offense and defense.
“’Pag may height and skills. ‘di pwedeng kulang-kulang kasi ‘pag may depensa tapos wala kang opensa, wala kang blocking, ang hirap maglaro nang ganun kung kulang-kulang. This time, in terms of height, skills, meron kami.
As Yee sums it all up, “Better kung meron kang materyales. ‘Pag wala, how can you work, ‘di ba?”
“Credit din to the veterans kaya mas kalmado ‘yung team. Alam’ yung gagawin, hindi panic [agad]. Ako, happy and easier for me mag-instruct kapag nakikinig at naiintindihan, especially ‘pag may tao sa loob na ipinapaliwanag sa kanila ‘yung sinasabi ng coach. It helps a lot.”
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