ZUS Coffee eyes Thea Gagate with top overall pick in PVL Draft

Even from weeks ago, ZUS Coffee head coach Jerry Yee already bared his intention to select prized talent Thea Gagate in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft.

And as the Thunderbelles formally clinched the top pick during a draft lottery on Monday, Yee confirmed that the franchise is looking at the 6-foot-2 middle blocker to lead their team in its first endeavor under a rebranded name.

"Consensus naman 'yun kung sinong number one diyan kasi mas kailangan mo 'yun — height [and] mobility," Yee said.

“Wala pang approval ng management but we all agreed on the first name we wanted, si Thea sana. So I’m here to look at the 13th pick.”

[There's a consensus on who should go number one because that's what you need — height and mobility... We don't have approval from management yet but we all agreed on the first name we wanted, and that's hopefully Thea. So I'm here to look at the 13th pick.]

The veteran tactician said Gagate will be a great addition to the squad, especially in the upcoming Reinforced Conference where the former La Salle standout will work together with an import and a crew of locals led by the core of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Cloanne Mondoñedo, Gayle Pascual, Mich Gamit, and Jade Gentapa.

"‘Pag gusto naming mag-compete, pinakamaganda na kunin si Thea para kumpleto ‘yung frontline mo plus may import ka na hopefully oustide hitter ‘yun," Yee said after the finals between his Lady Blazers and the Letran Lady Knights last month.

[If we want to compete, it would be best to select Thea so the frontline can be complete plus there's an import who can hopefully be outside hitter.]

Gagate, for her part, is embracing the pressure that comes to being the potential number one pick.

"I’ll just really do my best na matulungan ‘yung team na umangat ‘yung ranking nila sa PVL,” Gagate, who is also part of Alas Pilipinas, said.

[I'll just really do my best to help the team improve its ranking in the PVL.]

"There’s always gonna be pressure but I’ll put that aside and just focus on working hard on myself and I’ll be good."

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News