For those watching from the sidelines, it’s easy to notice that head coach Jerry Yee often stays outside the ZUS Coffee huddles during timeouts.
It’s a sight that might seem unusual for a head coach. But for veteran opposite spiker Jovelyn Gonzaga, who admitted it took some getting used to, that quiet distance speaks volumes about the trust Yee places in his players.
“Sa akin siguro nanibago ako kasi nasanay ako sa mga past coaches ko na very vocal,” admitted Gonzaga, who has been under the likes of Kungfu Reyes, Rico de Guzman, and Shaq Delos Santos in her career.
“Pero this time kasi, ang laking bagay din na ‘yung trust — again, balik tayo sa trust na binibigay ni coach sa’min… Siguro pag nara-rattle and all, doon na talaga siya nagse-step in talaga.”
Rather than barking instructions at every turn, Yee allows his players to lead their own conversations and resolve issues on the court — a dynamic Gonzaga believes has helped the Thunderbelles grow together and stay composed under pressure.
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“Pero once na alam na niya na kaya namin pag-usapan… Saka si coach kasi nag-aaral sa game, so in-game adjustment ang ginagawa niya,” she continued.
“So lahat ng nasa second six, napapaikot niya, alam niya kung kailan ang timing. So siguro kanya-kanyang trabaho, tas ime-merge namin kaya nagiging maganda ‘yung outcome.”
That mutual trust — between Yee’s calculated calm and the players’ accountability — has been one of the driving forces behind ZUS Coffee’s franchise-best 4-0 start in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
For someone like Cloanne Mondonedo, who has been under Yee’s system from the collegiate ranks to the pros, the setup is nothing new. She said the players have long embraced the freedom and responsibility that come with it.
“Well for me kasi matagal ko ng kilala si coach Jerry, so hindi na bago for me eh,” she shared. “Also kasi, kami rin naman sa practice ‘yung nag-uusap sa bawat isa sa’min, so nasanay na rin kami na kami na ‘yung bahala sa loob ng court.”
