Nolasco wrecks Akari in ZUS debut

MANILA, Philippines —  Jerry Yee instinctively fielded in Zam Nolasco, then a young, gangling middle blocker with the potential to excel, as a guest player when he was still coach of Farm Fresh three years ago.

It paid dividends for Yee and the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, as they managed to sign Nolasco – the reigning NCAA MVP from St. Benilde – straight as a free agent and not as a rookie, where she would have been heavily targeted.

“I knew from the start she has talent,” Yee said of his ward, who displayed it with a stellar performance in leading ZUS to a shocking 25-11, 25-23, 26-28, 25-17 win over Akari in yesterday’s start of the PVL on Tour in Ilagan City, Isabela.

Nolasco had 15 points on 11 attacks and a match-high four blocks, validating Yee’s faith in her.

“During training with ZUS, he told me we’ll just get the championship here so I can make up for our last loss,” Nolasco said, referring to their NCAA Finals defeat to Letran that denied St. Benilde a five-peat.

Nolasco said she had no problem transitioning back to the pros.

“I’m familiar with the coach, the program, and the system, which is helpful for me being new to the team,” she said.

The franchise did it without Thea Gagate, its 2024 first-round pick who was loaned to the Alas Pilipinas squad competing in September’s Asian Games in Aichi, Japan. Good thing there was Nolasco to fill that massive void.