ZUS Coffee gave Japanese import Asaka Tamaru her flowers after their 2024 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference campaign ended without a single win.
The Thunderbelles – the newest team in the 12-team field – were appreciative of Tamaru’s efforts, who carried the fight for them in every game they played.
This was despite the language barrier between the Japanese reinforcement and the local players.
“Sobra kasi si Asaka sa amin kahit na medyo mahirap sa amin yung communication, talagang tinatry niya yung best niya makipag-communicate sa amin,” said ZUS Coffee captain Cloanne Mondoñedo on Thursday at the end of their campaign.
“Kita naman natin yung basics niya talagang maganda. Natuturuan niya rin kami,” she added.
Unlike other imports who can converse seamlessly in English and some coaches who cannot speak English but have the luxury of a translator, Tamaru expresses herself via a translator app on her cellphone.
(c) PVL Images
Despite the communication challenge, Tamaru still ended up with 134 total points, good for 10th-most in the league.
Tamaru had first awed Filipino fans back in 2023 when her club team Kurashiki Ablaze ruled the Invitational Conference.
She was also in the top 10 in the reception department.
Finishing with a 0-8 record, Mondoñedo still felt satisfied with their performance, knowing what they needed to do to push it to the next level.
“Maturity talaga sa game kasi nandyan naman dumidikit naman kaya lang talaga sa huli talagang kinakapos kami lagi,” she noted.
When the All-Filipino Conference kicks off in the last quarter of 2024, the Thunderbelles will have a significant addition. Thea Gagate, the historic first overall pick of the PVL inaugural draft, is expected to join them.
