Despite falling short against the Akari Chargers, Thea Gagate was happy and proud of her debut performance for the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Thea Gagate has officially made her PVL debut for the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.
After sitting out the last conference due to Alas Pilipinas duties, Gagate showed just why she was selected first overall in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft.
Gagate put up a team-high 13 points for the Thunderbelles in their four-set loss against the Akari Chargers on Thursday, November 14 at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
The 6-foot-2 middle blocker admitted that finishing in double-digit scoring was not something she expected in her PVL debut.
“Thankful ako,” Gagate told reporters after the match.
“'Di ko ineexpect honestly double digits ako kasi ‘yun nga may pinagdadaanan ako on the side. But at the same time, happy din ako sa result ng game namin kasi nakikita mo 'yung laban kahit na bago kaming team,” she added.
High expectations have been set on Gagate, especially as ZUS Coffee continues to seek its first win in the PVL.
Despite this, Gagate is taking on the challenge to deliver game in and game out for the Thunderbelles in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.
“Honestly, meron naman talaga ganung weight [on my shoulders] pero I just think of it in a positive way na hindi ako ma-pressure sa kakayanan ko. Kasi alam ko rin naman ‘yung kakayahan ko and alam ko din na may tiwala ako sa team namin na kaya namin makapanalo ng games. One game at a time,” said Gagate.
[ALSO READ: No. 1 pick Thea Gagate eager to deliver wins for ZUS Coffee as she readies for PVL debut]
For now, the goal for Gagate and ZUS Coffee is to continue building chemistry and find ways to close out sets and in turn victories.
During the offseason, the Thunderbelles also brought in veterans Jovelyn Gonzaga and Chai Troncoso to help the team in the new season.
“Ang goal talaga namin is mag-improve nang mag-improve palagi even though 'di namin nakuha ‘yung gusto namin resulta today, which is ‘yung panalo. We’re still happy kasi at least nakikita mo nga yung laban,” said Gagate.
“Sabi nga ni ate Jov [Gonzaga] kailangan din i-work 'yung communication kasi nga ang daming lapses. Pero thankful din kami na mahaba 'tong conference na 'to para mas mag-work pa 'yung relationship namin inside and outside the court,” she added.
ZUS Coffee will have another shot at bagging its first-ever PVL win on Tuesday, November 19 as they face the Nxled Chameleons at the Ynares Center Antipolo.