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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.[1]

History

The Strong Group Athletics reportedly helped Premier Volleyball League club Quezon City Gerflor Defenders resolve its player salary issue[2] which was first reported in November 2023, during the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference.[3][4][5] Gerflor would be effectively disbanded after the tournament.[6]

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.[2][7] They made their PVL debut at the 2024 All-Filipino Conference.[8] Interim coach Rogelio Getigan led the team under the name "Strong Group Athletics" in their first tournament.[9][10]

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.[11]

Names

Current roster

Previous roster

Honors

Team captains

Head coach

Imports

References

  1. ^ "Philippine's billionaire Frank Lao buys 35% stake in Malaysian coffee shop Zus". The Star. Star Media Group Bhd. March 22, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Dannug, Jonash (January 13, 2024). "SGA takes over Gerflor in PVL". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "PVL probes Gerflor over allegations of delayed salaries, mistreatment". Spin.ph. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  4. ^ Times, Tiebreaker (November 9, 2023). "PVL puts Gerflor under investigation". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Agcaoili, Lance (November 9, 2023). "Gerflor team playing through low morale in PVL amid financial woes". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Dukha, Angel III (December 31, 2023). "Acaylar, disbanded Gerflor squad await their fates". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Strong Group joins PVL, takes over Gerflor franchise". GMA News. January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Garcia, John Mark (February 21, 2024). "Versoza thankful to SGA for giving PVL chance to players 'without connections'". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Jerry Yee takes helm, picks up Benilde seniors to form Zus Coffee". Tiebreaker Times. May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  10. ^ Bautista, Ohmer (February 15, 2024). "PVL: SGA tempers expectations with All-Filipino Conference lineup". One Sports. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "PVL: Strong Group rebrands as Zus Coffee Thunderbelles and with Jerry Yee as new coach". One Sports. May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "Akari cruises past Strong Group, finishes 7th". Premier Volleyball League. April 27, 2024. Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "Kurashiki's Asaka Tamaru to strengthen Zus Coffee". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 25, 2024.