The PVL on Tour has seen a strong start for ZUS COFFEE, with coach Jerry Yee's strategic moves paying off early in the competition. A key area of focus for Yee was improving the team's net defense, which was a weakness in the previous season. To address this, he made several roster changes.
Yee acquired new middle blockers Zam Nolasco and Alyanna Nicole Ong, and repositioned AC Miner from middle blocker to opposite spiker. These changes have yielded positive results, with the team securing two straight victories, including a dominant 25-14, 25-20, 25-23 win over Choco Mucho.
The team's new lineup has been effective in blocking, with a total of 30 blocks in a short span. The bulk of these blocks came from Nolasco, Miner, Ong, and mainstay middle blocker Riza Nogales. Nolasco contributed 7 blocks, Miner added 7, Ong had 3, and Nogales chipped in with 5.
However, Yee noted that the changes have also created some challenges, particularly in floor defense and third-ball handling. He acknowledged that there will be pros and cons to the team's new strategy, but emphasized the need to work through these issues.
Despite the early success, Yee remains cautious, warning that the road to genuine success will be long and hard. He expects the transition of the team's opposites to be a gradual process, but is optimistic about the team's potential for growth.
Yee expressed satisfaction with the team's response to the changes, saying that the players are willing to work on their weaknesses. He emphasized that with so many middle blockers on the roster, it's essential to maximize their potential.
