ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles’ newest recruit Alyssa Eroa during the PVL Press Corps Awards Night receiving her Comeback Player award. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — After an impressive resurgence in the pro scene, Alyssa Eroa is set to begin a new chapter in her Premier Volleyball League career with the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.
Eroa, who returned to the pros last year after a long hiatus, had a standout season with the Galeries Highrisers, leading the team to its first playoff appearance in the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference.
READ: PVL: Alyssa Eroa adds more promise to ZUS Coffee roster
The 28-year-old libero reaped the rewards of her leadership and floor defense, earning Comeback Player of the Year and Best Libero honors on Wednesday at the Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night at Novotel.
And now, she’s using that momentum as she joins another young and rising squad in ZUS Coffee.
Best Libero and Comeback Player of the Year Alyssa Eroa is ready for her next chapter with ZUS Coffee. #PVLPCAwards @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/QIUnH0mwzG
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 29, 2025
“It was really surprising because I didn’t expect there would be this kind of recognition in the PVL. It’s something new to me, but it also helps boost my confidence for the upcoming conferences,” said Eroa in Filipino.
“I guess it feels like a fresh start, with a new team that feels like a family, with sisters and teammates. This is where I think my role as an experienced player will really be tested. And since there are many veterans on the team, I think I’ll be calmer now.”
READ: ZUS Coffee taps 3 more free agents after Alyssa Eroa signing
Eroa joins a Thunderbelles team that made a leap from cellar dwellers to contenders, reaching the playoffs last conference after surviving the play-in and pushing eventual champion Petro Gazz to a hard-fought best-of-three quarterfinal series.
The former San Sebastian Lady Stag will now team up with mainstays Jovelyn Gonzaga, Chai Troncoso, Chinnie Arroyo, setter Chlo Mondoñedo, and last season’s No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year Thea Gagate.
“I don’t think adjusting will be too hard, especially with older and younger players around,” she said. “I’m probably more comfortable with the younger ones since I spent time with Galeries, where most of my teammates were younger.”
Eroa admitted it was a difficult decision to leave Galeries, the team that gave her a second shot at the pros. But with the support of the Highrisers’ coaching staff and management, her transition was smooth.
“It was pretty hard and sad when I said goodbye because they were the team that gave me a chance to return to the PVL. But the management and Coach Lerma (Giron) were very understanding, and everything went smoothly during my departure,” she said.
As she embarks on a new journey, Eroa vows to contribute to ZUS Coffee’s continued rise.
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“To stay consistent. I hope I can give to ZUS what I gave to Galeries. I really want to repay the trust ZUS has given me,” she said.
Besides Eroa, ZUS Coffee also signed her Galeries teammate and setter Ney Mabilangan, as well as veterans Fiola Ceballos and Maika Ortiz.
