When ZUS Coffee clinched its first-ever Premier Volleyball League Finals appearance with a stunning straight-set semifinal win over PLDT, it marked a long-awaited milestone for a program that had spent much of its history near the bottom of the league.
For American import Anna DeBeer, the moment carried extra motivation.
Coming in without knowing what to expect, DeBeer has witnessed the team’s remarkable transformation from a long-struggling squad to legitimate title contenders.
Now, she is determined to do everything in her power to help the Thunderbelles secure their first-ever franchise championship.
“Just not really knowing what to expect coming in, but seeing how far we’ve come from the very beginning. I mean, just seeing how much it means to them just makes it mean so much more,” said the 5-foot-11 winger, who dropped 30 points in their emphatic sweep of the High Speed Hitters last Thursday.
“And this whole season we’ve worked so hard to get here and it’s finally paying off. Seeing their emotion and all the work they’ve put in over the years, and to know this is the first time for this program and first time for me being here.”
(C) PVL Images
ZUS Coffee steadily built a roster capable of challenging the league’s best. They began by selecting Thea Gagate as the top overall pick in the 2024 PVL Rookie Draft and added key veterans like Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chai Troncoso, and Chinnie Arroyo.
This year, the team bolstered its lineup further with draft picks AC Miner, Riza Nogales, and Mycah Go, while former league Best Libero Alyssa Eroa brought experience and stability to the back row.
The icing on the cake was DeBeer, whom teammates and coaches believe is the final — and biggest — piece of the puzzle. Her explosiveness and efficiency have given the Thunderbelles the edge they need as they chase the first PVL title in franchise history.
But while much of the fanfare centered on her, DeBeer made sure to credit her teammates, acknowledging their hard work and dedication in reaching this milestone.
“Yeah, I think it’s really awesome at times, but I have everyone around me who does so much that goes unnoticed, or that can sometimes go unnoticed. And I just want to give them credit because, for example, the middles are holding the blocks to allow me to be able to score one-on-one,” DeBeer said.
“There’s just so much that goes on behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t see all the time. So I totally give credit to the teammates — for passing, setting, all around. It allows me to be able to do what I can,” she added.
“It’s awesome for ZUS Coffee to be in the finals. I’m just so proud.”
