The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (stylized as ZUS Coffee) are a professional women's volleyball team in the Philippines competing in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). The team is owned by Strong Group Athletics, founded by Frank Lao, who has a stake in the Malaysian-based coffee chain Zus Coffee.
The team made their team debut in the 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference under the name Strong Group Athletics following the organization's take over of the Quezon City Gerflor Defenders franchise. The Thunderbelles are one of two teams owned by SGA, the other being the Farm Fresh Foxies.
History
Background
During the 2023 Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference, the Quezon City Gerflor Defenders were put under investigation by the league due to financial issues. The roster's unpaid salaries were eventually settled by Strong Group Athletics, backers of the Farm Fresh Foxies. On January 13, 2024, it was announced that the organization would take over the Gerflor franchise beginning with the 2024 Premier Volleyball League season, and were established as the organization's second team after Farm Fresh. The day after, SGA founder Frank Lao announced that the team will be named Strong Group Athletics, following the success of the eponymous basketball team.
First seasons They made their PVL debut at the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, with Rogelio Getigan named as the team's first head coach.
In May 27, 2024, the team announced that it would rebrand to the Zus Coffee Thunderbelles following Strong Group Athletics' partnership with Zus Coffee, a Malaysian coffee brand in which Lao has a stake in. They also announced that Jerry Yee, head coach of the Benilde Lady Blazers volleyball team, would succeed Getigan as head coach beginning with the 2024 Reinforced conference. On June 24, Zus Coffee won the first overall pick in the inaugural PVL draft lottery, which they used to select Thea Gagate during the 2024 Premier Volleyball League draft.
In the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference, the Thunderbelles reached the quarterfinals for the first time. The team won the first match of the best-of-three series against the Petro Gazz Angels, but lost the next two and were eliminated. Zus Coffee reached their first ever PVL finals at the 2025 Reinforced Conference. They lost the bid for a tournament title against the Petro Gazz Angels.
Names Strong Group Athletics (2024 All-Filipino) Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (2024 Reinforced–present)
Current roster
Season-by-season records
Season Conference Preliminary round Final round Ranking Source 2024–25 All-Filipino 12th (0–11, 0 pts) Did not qualify 12th place Reinforced 12th (0–8, 0 pts) Did not qualify 12th place Invitational colspan=4 All-Filipino 9th (4–7, 14 pts) Lost in quarterfinals vs. Petro Gazz, 1–2 7th place 2025–26 PVL on Tour 5th (2–3, 7 pts) Lost in quarterfinals vs. PLDT, 0–3 7th place Invitational 6th (0–5, 0 pts) Did not qualify 6th place Reinforced 2nd (7–1, 20 pts) Won in quarterfinals vs. Capital1, 3–0 Won in semifinals vs. PLDT, 3–0 Lost in championship vs. Petro Gazz, 1–3 Runner-up All-Filipino 10th (1–8, 3 pts) Lost in Play-in quarterfinal vs. Choco Mucho, 2–3 10th place 2026–27 Invitational colspan=4
Notes
Individual awards
PVLPC Rookie of the Year Thea Gagate – 2025
Best Setter Cloanne Mondoñedo – 2025 Reinforced Rookie of the Conference Shayra Ancheta – 2024 Reinforced AC Miner – 2025 Reinforced
1st Best Middle Blocker Thea Gagate – 2024–25 All-Filipino 2nd Best Middle Blocker Rizza Nogales — 2025 Invitational, 2026 All-Filipino
Best Foreign Guest Player Anna DeBeer — 2025 Reinforced
Team captains Dolly Verzosa (2024) Cloanne Mondoñedo (2024–present)
Head coach Rogelio Getigan (2024) Jerry Yee (2024–present)
Former players
Caroline Santos Danivah Aying (2024) Dolly Versoza (2024-2025) Gayle Pascual (2024-2025) Jade Gentapa (2025–2026) Jenina Zeta (2024) Julia Angeles (2024-2025) Maika Ortiz (2025–2026) Michelle Gamit (2024) Nikka Yandoc (2024) Renee Mabilangan Renee Penafiel (2025-2026) Shayra Ancheta (2024-2025)
Draft history Season Pick No. Name2024 1 Thea Gagate 13 Shayra Ancheta 19 Nikka Yandoc 22 Jenina Zeta2025 5 AC Miner 17 Mycah Go 25 Riza Nogales 28 Angela Jackson 2026 4 Alyanna Ong
Imports Asaka Tamaru (2024) Anna DeBeer (2025)
References