DeBeer, the force behind Zus’ unblemished run, gets due credit
It is no secret who is powering ZUS Coffee to its best start in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
American import Anna DeBeer brings the right blend of firepower and leadership to power the Thunderbelles’ four-game unbeaten run in the Reinforced Conference.
The Thunderbelles’ last victim was a complete and healthy Petro Gazz side, rising above the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference champions, 25-22, 25-21, 25-20, on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan.
DeBeer’s 23-point production helped keep ZUS Coffee as the lone unscathed team in the tournament, earned her the PVL Press Corps Player of the Week presented by Pilipinas Live for the period of Oct. 28 to Oct. 31.
The 24-year-old outside spiker previously said she is aiming for nothing less than the crown. And with a whole organization—from management to staff members—backing her up, the sky is the limit for the Thunderbelles.
“Obviously, as a team, we want to win this thing. And we’re going to try our best to get there,” said DeBeer.
“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,” she added.
DeBeer edged out Akari’s Annie Mitchem, Creamline’s Courtney Schwan, Farm Fresh’s Helene Rouss Seaux, PLDT’s Savannah Davison, and the closest competitor, Capital1’s Oleksandra Bytsenko, for the weekly plum deliberated by print and online reporters covering the pioneering professional volleyball league organized by Sports Vision.
As one of the shorter imports in the league, DeBeer is embracing a “height doesn’t matter” mentality.
DeBeer previously played in the US NCAA Division I with the University of Louisville Cardinals, helping steer the squad to national championships.
“Obviously, 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, I guess,” she said.
