# Zus Coffee Thunderbelles

The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (stylized as ZUS Coffee) are a professional women's volleyball team in the Philippines that made their team debut in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference under the name Strong Group.
Strong Group Athletics of Frank Lao also backs the Farm Fresh Foxies of the PVL. The Thunderbelles are currently named after Malaysian-based coffee chain Zus Coffee, a brand which Lao is also an investor of.

## History

The Strong Group Athletics reportedly helped Premier Volleyball League club Quezon City Gerflor Defenders resolve its player salary issue which was first reported in November 2023, during the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference. Gerflor would be effectively disbanded after the tournament.
In January 2023, it was announced that the Strong Group would be taking over Gerflor's franchise. It was Strong Group's second PVL team, the first being the Farm Fresh Foxies. They made their PVL debut at the 2024 All-Filipino Conference. Interim coach Rogelio Getigan led the team under the name "Strong Group Athletics" in their first tournament.
In May 2024 in the lead up to the Reinforced Invitational Conference, Strong Group rebranded as Zus Coffee Thunderbelles and will take effect at the upcoming PVL conference after made a partnership with Zus Coffee. The team also announced coach Jerry Yee as the new head coach.

## Names

* Strong Group Athletics (2024 All-Filipino)
* Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (2024 Reinforced–present)

## Current roster

Zus Coffee Thunderbelles :
| No. | Player | Position | Height | Birth date | School |
| 1 | Michelle Gamit | Middle Blocker | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2000-05-09) May 9, 2000 (age 24) | Benilde |
| 3 | Thea Gagate | Middle Blocker | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | (2000-07-06) July 6, 2000 (age 24) | DLSU |
| 4 | Kate Santiago | Outside Hitter | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | (2002-01-26) January 26, 2002 (age 23) | Adamson |
| 5 | Glaudine Troncoso | Outside Hitter | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | (1997-10-13) October 13, 1997 (age 27) | CPU |
| 6 | Julia Angeles | Libero | 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) | (1998-09-01) September 1, 1998 (age 26) | Letran |
| 7 | Jade Gentapa | Outside Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | November 28, 2000 (age 23) | Benilde |
| 8 | Cloanne Mondoñedo (C) | Setter | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | (2000-11-16) November 16, 2000 (age 24) | Benilde |
| 9 | Gayle Pascual | Opposite Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | September 3, 1999 (age 24) | Benilde |
| 10 | Chinnie Pia Arroyo | Outside Hitter | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | (2001-05-19) May 19, 2001 (age 23) | NU |
| 11 | Jenina Marie Zeta | Libero | 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) | (1999-11-12) November 12, 1999 (age 25) | UE |
| 12 | Joan Narit | Middle Blocker | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | (2000-12-04) December 4, 2000 (age 24) | Ateneo |
| 13 | Sharya Ancheta | Middle Blocker | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | (1999-11-25) November 25, 1999 (age 25) | AdU |
| 14 | Dolly Versoza | Outside Hitter | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | (1998-03-10) March 10, 1998 (age 26) | JRU |
| 16 | Nikka Yandoc | Setter | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | (2000-01-10) January 10, 2000 (age 25) | AdU |
| 18 | Danivah Sheilo Aying | Opposite Hitter | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | (2001-03-31) March 31, 2001 (age 23) | USJ-R |
| 21 | Jovelyn Gonzaga | Opposite Hitter | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | (1991-10-31) October 31, 1991 (age 33) | CPU |
| 22 | Ypril Tapia | Outside Hitter | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) | (2001-12-15) December 15, 2001 (age 23) | UST |
Coaching staff :
| Position | Name |
| Head Coach | Jerry Yee |
| Assistant Coach 1 | Rogelio Getigan |
| Assistant Coach 2 | Justine Dorog |
| Strength and Conditioning Coach | TBA |
| Trainer | TBA |
| Physiotherapist | Christine Magtibay |
| Team Manager | Jacob Lao |

## Previous roster

2024 :
Reinforced
Main article: 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference
Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
No.
Player
Position
Height
Birth date
School
1 Michelle GamitMiddle Blocker1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2000-05-09) May 9, 2000 (age 24)Benilde
3 Thea Gagate (NT)Middle Blocker1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) (2000-07-06) July 6, 2000 (age 24)DLSU
6 Julia AngelesLibero1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) (1998-09-01) September 1, 1998 (age 26)Letran
7 Jade GentapaOutside Hitter1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)November 28, 2000 (age 23)Benilde
8 Cloanne Mondoñedo (C)Setter1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) (2000-11-16) November 16, 2000 (age 24)Benilde
9 Gayle PascualOpposite Hitter1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)September 3, 1999 (age 24)Benilde
10 Dolly VersozaOutside Hitter
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
(1998-03-10) March 10, 1998 (age 26)JRU
11 Jenina Marie ZetaLibero5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) (1999-11-12) November 12, 1999 (age 25)UE
13 Sharya AnchetaMiddle Blocker
1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
(1999-11-25) November 25, 1999 (age 25)AdU
14 Jaycel Delos ReyesMiddle Blocker1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) (1999-07-14) July 14, 1999 (age 25)Ateneo
15 Asaka Tamaru (I)Outside Hitter1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1998-08-04) August 4, 1998 (age 26)Kyoto Sangyo University
16 Nikka YandocSetter1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) (2000-01-10) January 10, 2000 (age 25)AdU
17 Mary Joy OnofreMiddle Blocker
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
(1997-05-28) May 28, 1997 (age 27)LPU
22 Ypril TapiaOutside Hitter1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) (2001-12-15) December 15, 2001 (age 23)UST
Danivah Sheilo AyingOutside Hitter1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)USJ-R
Coaching staff
Position
Name
Head Coach
Jerry Yee
Assistant Coach 1
Rogelio Getigan
Assistant Coach 2
Justine Dorog
Strength and Conditioning Coach
TBA
Trainer
TBA
Physiotherapist
Christine Magtibay
Team Manager
Jacob Lao
All-Filipino
Main article: 2024 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference
Strong Group Athletics
No.
Player
Position
Height
Birth date
School
1 Valiza FornilosOpposite Spiker
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
(2002-01-22)January 22, 2002 (aged 22)ADMU
2 Jana Sta. MariaUniversal1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) (1996-08-12)August 12, 1996 (aged 27)UE
3 Melanie RomeroLibero1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1996-07-16)July 16, 1996 (aged 27)CSB
4 Jean LicaucoLibero1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (2001-05-18)May 18, 2001 (aged 22)ADMU
5 Noheli CerdeñaMiddle Blocker
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
(1999-01-15)January 15, 1999 (aged 25)UPSHD
6 Sarah VerutiaoSetter1.64 m (5 ft 5 in) (1996-04-25)April 25, 1996 (aged 27)AU
7 Justine ReblezaOutside Hitter1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (1998-11-27)November 27, 1998 (aged 25)FEU
8 Javen SabasOutside Hitter1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) (1999-01-31)January 31, 1999 (aged 25)PUP
9 Chumcee CaoleSetter
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) (1998-07-19)July 19, 1998 (aged 25)
EC
10 Ayumi FurukawaOpposite Spiker
1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
(1999-04-18)April 18, 1999 (aged 24)ADMU
11 Sheeka EspinosaOpposite Spiker1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) (1996-08-26)August 26, 1996 (aged 27)TIP
12 Vira GuillemaSetter1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) (1995-05-09)May 9, 1995 (aged 28)SSC–R
13 Jan Angeli CaneOutside Hitter1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) (2001-01-28)January 28, 2001 (aged 23)ADMU
14 Dolly Versoza (C)Outside Hitter
1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
(1998-03-10)March 10, 1998 (aged 25)JRU
15 Souzan RaslanOpposite Spiker1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) (1995-01-01)January 1, 1995 (aged 29)CDSL
17 Mary Joy OnofreMiddle Blocker
1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
(1997-05-28)May 28, 1997 (aged 26)LPU
18 Grenlen MalapitMiddle Blocker1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) (1997-08-18)August 18, 1997 (aged 26)LPU
19 Nikkie BaldizansoMiddle Blocker
1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
(2002-02-16)February 16, 2002 (aged 22)UP
20 Lilet MabbayadMiddle Blocker1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) (1987-09-16)September 16, 1987 (aged 36)UST
22 Merry Rose JauculanUniversal1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) (2000-08-11)August 11, 2000 (aged 23)UST
Coaching staff
Position
Name
Head Coach
Rogelio Getigan
Assistant Coach 1
Jay Chua
Assistant Coach 2
Justine Dorog
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Trainer
Physiotherapist
Christine Magtibay
Team Manager
Jacob Lao :

## Honors
### Team

| Season | Conference | Title |
| 2024 | All-Filipino | 12th place |
| 2024 | Reinforced | 12th place |
| 2024-25 | All-Filipino | TBD |

### Individual

| Season | Conference | Award | Name | Ref. |
| 2024 | Reinforced | Rookie of the Conference | Shayra Ancheta | |

## Team captains

* Dolly Verzosa (2024)
* Cloanne Mondoñedo (2024–present)

## Head coach

* Rogelio Getigan (2024)
* Jerry Yee (2024–present)

## Imports

* Asaka Tamaru (2024)