Thea Gagate excited to help ZUS Coffee in PVL

Being the top overall pick of the inaugural Premier Volleyball League (PVL), Thea Gagate admitted that there would always be pressure, but she said exciting times are ahead as she jumps to the pro ranks.

Gagate was chosen by the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles on Monday.

“There’s always gonna be pressure but I’m just excited as well. I hope I’ll do my best to help the team and help build their rank up in the PVL,” Gagate said on the sidelines of the draft.

Thea Gagate on being the overall top pick of the #PVLRookieDraft @gmasportsph @gmanews https://t.co/BSTebrJEEI pic.twitter.com/czTzZt9RXw

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) July 8, 2024

Rebranding as ZUS Coffee, the former Strong Group Athletics finished winless and dead last in the previous All-Filipino Conference.

In ZUS, Gagate will join the likes of NCAA champions Cloanne Mondoñedo, Mich Gamit, and Jade Gentapa under the mentorship of collegiate champion coach Jerry Yee in the PVL.

“Very exciting kasi we’ve never been together with other NCAA. Siguro mas maganda lang ‘tong experience and hopefully makabuo ng magandang energy all together with my new team,” added the middle blocker.

[Very exciting because we've never been together with other NCAA. I think it would be a good experience and hopefully we can build good energy all together with my new team.]

However, Gagate will have to juggle it with her Alas Pilipinas duties as the national team joins the upcoming SEA V.League, with an upcoming Japan training camp this month.

Yee, meanwhile, expects Gagate will be a big addition to his squad.

“Malaki [tulong] of course,” Yee said. “Kung makakakuha tayo ng magandang pasa, mahirap pigilan ‘yung ganung height. Sa blocking parang instant naman ‘yun na di rin basta lulusot. Any team in the PVL magiging suwerte to have her.”

[She will be a big help, of course... If she can get good passes, it will be hard to stop that height. With blocking, that's instant, not everything will get through. Any team in the PVL would be lucky to have her.]

—JMB, GMA Integrated News