Nolasco shows worth, keys ZUS nipping of Akari

PHOTO: PVL

NCAA Most Valuable Player Zam Nolasco wasted no time settling in with the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.

The transition to the pros has been smooth for Nolasco, who reunited with longtime coach Jerry Yee after starring for College of Saint Benilde, and their familiarity with each other allowed the rookie middle blocker to quickly adapt to her new team.

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Nolasco, who won three NCAA titles with Yee, stood tall and finished with 15 points, as ZUS Coffee foiled Akari, 25-11, 25-23. 26-28, 25-17, to win their PVL on Tour Ilagan, Isabela showdown on Wednesday at Capital Arena.

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“The transition from college to the pros has been pretty direct. Coach Jerry and I had already talked about this plan even before I graduated, so everything worked out well for me,” said Nolasco, who had 11 kills and four kill blocks.

“Everyone has made things so easy for me,” the 6-foot-1 middle blocker went on. “My teammates and coaches are very kind, which has really helped me as a rookie. I’m already familiar with the program, the system, and the players, so there really haven’t been a lot of adjustments.

“I’m just trying to continue playing the way I know how.”

Nolasco’s final season in the NCAA ended with a runner-up finish as the Lady Blazers lost to the Letran Lady Knights despite her MVP run.

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That’s why she wants to redeem herself by helping Yee and the Thunderbelles win their first title in the PVL after a runner-up finish in the 2025 Reinforced and Play-in exit in the All-Filipino Conference last April.

“Coach Jerry told me here at ZUS that we’ll just win the championship here instead,” said Nolasco. “I was happy to hear that because it gave me something to look forward to. I know I can bounce back since we still have plenty of time to prepare, and we’ll have many games together as a team.”

AC Miner, returning from a shin injury that sidelined her in the All-Filipino Conference, also had 15 points that went with 10 digs for ZUS, which also drew 12 points from new acquisition Jolina Dela Cruz. The veteran Rachel Anne Daquis had 11 points, helping the Thunderbelles seal the win, worth P100,000, in their first preseason game.

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The 22-year-old Nolasco will continue to learn from the Thunderbelles, as she is excited to meet new set of PVL fans in Batangas City against Choco Mucho on Saturday.

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