ZUS Coffee’s dynamic duo, Cloanne Mondonedo and Michelle Gamit, are proving that hard work and resilience pay off as they lead the Thunderbelles’ stunning rise in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
After a tough, winless campaign in the 2024 Reinforced Conference, the former College of St. Benilde standouts have become cornerstones of the Thunderbelles’ transformation, igniting new energy.
“Happy po kami na nagbubunga yung tine-training namin araw-araw and may mga resulta ‘yung mga games namin and ‘di nasasayang yung pagod,” said Gamit, who is averaging 11.5 points per game in the Thunderbelles’ last four matches.
“Kahit may mga losses kami, mas okay yung performance namin compared sa mga past conferences.”
Mondonedo and Gamit have been instrumental in ZUS Coffee’s surge. Mondonedo is averaging 15.6 sets per game, while Gamit is contributing 9.8 points per outing.
When asked about their performances in this conference, the former NCAA Best Setter and the 24-year-old middle blocker shared that they are simply applying what they’ve learned in training to the game.
“For me po, ginagawa ko lang yung trabaho ko, nakikinig lang ako sa coaches. Ang mahalaga naman yung win, yung naco-contribute ko sa team,” said Mondonedo.
“Ginagawa lang po yung mga tinuturo sa training, at lumalabas sa games namin. Nakikita naman po yung result, at hindi po kami tumitigil sa trabaho namin,” echoed Gamit.
However, the two know that a few wins are just the beginning. They remain determined to help the Thunderbelles leave a lasting mark in the PVL.
“Siyempre happy, pero hindi naman sa isang win natatapos yung work namin. Move forward lang, and ayun trabaho lang,” said Mondonedo.
“Yung sinasabi nila coach na one game at a time lang kami, hindi namin muna pinoproblema yung mga susunod, future. Basta kung ano muna yung game namin, doon muna kami nakafocus, and yun muna wino-work on namin,” added Gamit.