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For the first time in her career, Anna DeBeer takes her talents overseas.
DASMARIÑAS, CAVITE – Up until ZUS Coffee came knocking on her door, Anna DeBeer had always stayed close to home as a volleyball player.
DeBeer was a key figure of the Louisville Cardinals’ National Championship appearances in 2022 and 2024, before being selected second overall by the Indy Ignite in the Major Volleyball League.
So when ZUS Coffee reached out to DeBeer ahead of the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, it didn’t take long for her to say yes. While there were hesitations at first, the drive to improve and grow out of her comfort zone ultimately prevailed for the 24-year-old.
“Yeah, definitely. Our off-season is pretty long in the US, and I’m always looking for ways to get better, so when this opportunity came about, it was really an easy yes,” DeBeer told The GAME in an exclusive interview after her PVL debut at the Dasmariñas Arena here.
“I’ve been out of the country before, but nothing for professional volleyball; so just to obviously get the change, and I’ve been so close to home my whole life.”
It also helped that DeBeer heard nothing but great stories about the Filipino volleyball fanbase, which became another sign to take the leap of faith.
“I mean, just hearing everyone talk about the Philippines and how they really love volleyball here, and it’s an opportunity to grow and help the team. I really was, it was a no-brainer,” she said.
After the recent International Transfer Certificate (ITC) impasse delayed her PVL debut, DeBeer exploded for a team-high 36 points against the Chery Tiggo Crossovers. Even more impressive, the American spiker is actually this year’s youngest import at 24, and the shortest with a recorded height of six feet flat.
DeBeer, though, remains unfazed by these facts, knowing that she has enough competitive fire to go toe-to-toe with older and more physically gifted peers.
“I honestly didn’t even know I was the youngest one until somebody told me the other day; but I think I’m just really excited, and I think that age is just a number, so I’m really excited to get to work and show my competitive spirit,” she said.
Calculated risk
Why did ZUS Coffee tap a young import in the first place? As far as head coach Jerry Yee is concerned, it’s a matter of DeBeer’s fit in his system and in a roster filled with talents of similar age.
Although the youth factor can be a double-edged sword, Yee is confident that ZUS Coffee’s veterans are there to guide DeBeer and the likes of Thea Gagate, AC Miner, and Cloanne Mondoñedo, to name a few.
“May mga videos naman siya and malakas naman; okay naman ‘yung evaluation sa kanya. So yeah, bago, bata, but I guess okay na rin samin kasi kasing edad niya ‘yung team, so we get along very well. Masaya ‘yung ensayo and masaya sila,” Yee told The GAME in a separate interview.
“It’s important to have veterans and then may naga-guide sa kanila; but then ayun na nga, magkaka-edad sila and magkakasundo sila. Parang ‘yung language nila pareho, so masaya.”
Yee believes that the PVL is yet to see Anna DeBeer at her peak, sharing, “Mas malakas pa ‘yan sa practice! So ang daming errors [against Chery Tiggo], pero mapa-polish din ‘yan.”
For her part, DeBeer says that she’s settling in nicely in the PVL, and it’s just a matter of ironing out the kinks.
“Everyone’s been awesome, so that’s made the transition a lot smoother and a lot easier, so hopefully it’ll just continue to get better. Hopefully, we’ll do more of what we’ve been doing, and I think it’s really exciting in these environments,” she said.
“So hopefully no five-setters!” DeBeer said in jest. “But I’m just really excited to continue getting better.”
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.