ZUS Coffee’s dynamic duo, Cloanne Mondonedo and Michelle Gamit, are proving that resilience and hard work pay off, spearheading the Thunderbelles’ rise in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
From a tough, winless campaign in the 2024 Reinforced Conference to becoming key figures in the Thunderbelles’ transformation, the former College of St. Benilde standouts have embraced their leadership roles, fueling the team’s newfound 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,” shared Gamit, who has been a force in the middle, 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," she added, highlighting the team’s steady progress.
Mondonedo and Gamit have been at the heart of ZUS Coffee’s resurgence. Mondonedo, the former NCAA Best Setter, has been orchestrating the offense with precision, averaging 15.6 sets per game, while Gamit has been a defensive and offensive pillar, contributing 9.8 points per outing.
“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,” Mondonedo said, emphasizing her focus on executing her role to perfection.
Gamit echoed the sentiment, crediting the team’s training regimen for their improved performance. “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.”
Despite their recent success, the two remain grounded, knowing that there’s still a long road ahead. Their sights are set on sustaining the momentum and making a lasting impact in the league.
“Siyempre happy, pero hindi naman sa isang win natatapos yung work namin. Move forward lang, and ayun trabaho lang,” said Mondonedo, underscoring the team’s mindset of continuous improvement.
“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,” Gamit added.
