DeBeer makes it worth the wait as ZUS triumphs
DASMARIÑAS, Cavite—The first win didn’t count. The debut didn’t happen. Anna DeBeer warmed up, ready to stamp her passport into the PVL. Then the league drew a hard line: no international transfer certificates, no imports. ZUS’ victory was wiped clean, and the opening two games were sent into replay.
“I think it just makes the anticipation higher and the excitement more exciting,” DeBeer said. “It’s really out of our control, so I really wasn’t stressing and worrying too much and just really working hard this week to be ready for today.”
Saturday became the proper beginning. The University of Louisville product turned that pent-up anticipation into a scoring exhibition: 37 points—35 kills, a block and an ace—plus 14 excellent receptions, as ZUS Coffee outlasted Chery Tiggo, 25-15, 19-25, 25-20, 25-23, at Dasmariñas Arena here.
“We were just focusing on the positives,” ZUS coach Jerry Yee said. “Like today, it probably helped that this wasn’t our first game anymore and we already played in Montalban. That kind of experience helped us in this match.”
The Thunderbelles played like a group that no longer had newcomer written all over it. AC Miner chipped in 13 points with three blocks; Clo Mondoñedo stitched the attack with 22 excellent sets; libero Alyssa Eroa steadied the floor with 12 receptions and 11 digs.
Mylene Paat, finally back after more than a year out due to an undisclosed injury, punched in six off the bench and strung together clutch swings to knot the match after two.
Chery Tiggo delivered its own punch, led by Yunieska Batista’s 22 and Ara Galang’s 15. But with DeBeer in full stride, the Thunderbelles refused to be denied.
“Obviously, as a team, we want to win this thing. And we’re going to try our best to get there,” DeBeer said. “I think that’s why it’s super exciting to be in an environment with such a great team, with great staff, and be around good people where it’s fun to work hard every single day. So I’m really just excited about getting better and seeing how far we can go.”
At six feet, DeBeer knows she won’t always tower over defensive walls.
“I think in the US, we’ve kind of brought it out like height doesn’t matter, so I really don’t think about—I didn’t even know I was one of the shorter ones,” she said.
