From going winless in their first conference, Cloanne Mondoñedo and Michelle Gamit are now seeing the results of their hard work with the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
From going winless in their first two conferences in the PVL, ZUS Coffee now finds itself fighting for a spot in the top 6 of the standings in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
The Thunderbelles, previously the Strong Group Athletics, are fresh off a four-set victory over the Chery Tiggo Crossovers, 25-22, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Thursday, Jan. 30.
Leading the way was team captain and setter Cloanne Mondoñedo, who had 17 excellent sets in the win.
Five players finished in double-digits for ZUS Coffee as Jovelyn Gonzaga had 20 points, Chai Troncoso added 18, while Thea Gagate and Chinnie Aroyo put up 13 and 12 markers, respectively. Michelle Gamit also had 10 points in the victory.
The victory over the Crossovers proved to be a statement win for the young Thunderbelles as Mondoñedo and Gamit shared their excitement in seeing the team’s progress in the extended conference.
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“Siyempre happy pero hindi naman sa isang win natatapos yung work namin. Move forward lang and ayun trabaho lang,” Mondoñedo said during the post-game press conference.
“Happy po kami na nagbubunga ‘yung tine-training namin araw-araw and may mga resulta ‘yung mga games namin and ‘di nasasayang ‘yung pagod. Kahit may mga losses kami mas okay ‘yung performance namin compared sa mga past conferences,” Gamit added.
The two are no strangers to success, having completed a three-peat with the College of St. Benilde Lady Blazers.
Now, with ZUS Coffee, Mondoñedo and Gamit are out to replicate their success in the professional league.
The Thunderbelles still have three more games left in the preliminary round, all of which will be against contending teams in the league.
Nonetheless, the work continues for Mondoñedo and Gamit, who experienced ZUS Coffee’s winless campaign during the 2024 Reinforced Conference.
“Kami talaga iniisip namin talaga work lang kung manalo man kami today as long as may natututunan kami pero ngayon sa game na ito super proud and happy sa kinalabasan ng game kasi it’s a team effort,” said Mondoñedo.
“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,” Gamit added.
The Thunderbelles will face the Petro Gazz Angels next on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at the PhilSports Arena.