Clo Mondoñedo’s setting excellence elevates Thunderbelles

Watching the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles' journey from being cellar-dwellers to rising to the occasion in crucial moments is both inspiring and motivational.

In their first two conferences in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), ZUS struggled to secure a win, finishing with a 0-20 record in their debut season. However, on November 19, 2024, the Thunderbelles claimed their first victory against the Nxled Chameleons—an achievement our team was privileged to witness in person.

During that game, the PVL’s first-ever top overall draft pick and Alas Pilipinas member, Thea Gagate, showcased her dominance, while Jovelyn Gonzaga displayed her veteran skills.

But one player stood out the most—ZUS Coffee’s team captain and main setter, Cloanne Sophia Mondoñedo.

Mondoñedo recorded 17 excellent sets and one ace, effectively supporting Gonzaga’s 23-point performance and Gagate’s 16 markers.

From that moment on, the Thunderbelles secured three more wins, finishing the preliminaries in ninth place with a 4-7 record. Their standings, however, were somewhat deceiving, as they consistently put up strong fights against their opponents. Notably, they won 20 out of the 43 sets they played in the preliminaries.

In the qualifying round, ZUS fell to the PLDT High-Speed Hitters.

The Thunderbelles were then relegated to the Play-In tournament. But, as they had done before, they overcame obstacles and swept both of their matches, defeating the Cignal HD Spikers and Capital1 Solar Spikers in the process.

Over those two Play-In tournament games, ZUS Coffee recorded a total of 49 excellent sets—48 of which were delivered by Mondoñedo.

Fast forward to the Quarterfinal round, the 24-year-old setter from the College of St. Benilde delivered yet another stellar performance with 19 excellent sets, leading the Thunderbelles to a stunning sweep of the No. 2 seed, Petro Gazz Angels, in Game 1 of their best-of-three series. In doing so, they snapped Petro Gazz’s 10-game winning streak with a 25-21, 25-23, 27-25 victory.

Throughout the tournament, “Clo” amassed a total of 41 points, comprising 22 attacks, 13 service aces (ranked No. 6), and six blocks across the 47 sets she played. She also delivered an impressive 177 excellent sets, placing her among the league’s top four setters—behind Farm Fresh’s Louie Romero (178), Creamline’s Kyle Negrito (194), and Cignal’s Gel Cayuna (198).

As the driving force behind ZUS Coffee’s offensive execution, Cloanne Mondoñedo continues to elevate her teammates’ performances. If the Thunderbelles maintain this level of play, Coach Jerry Yee will undoubtedly have plenty to smile about as they progress in their PVL journey.

Beyond her exceptional setting skills, Mondoñedo’s leadership shines through, fostering a team environment where the Thunderbelles genuinely enjoy playing alongside one another.

With Cloanne at the helm—while also drawing wisdom from the team’s seasoned veterans—ZUS Coffee has cultivated a culture of resilience and determination. As they continue to rise against the odds, the Thunderbelles are proving that their journey is just getting started—one set, one win, and one breakthrough at a time.