Thea Gagate and Leila Cruz welcomed their first professional face-off in the PVL as the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles overpowered Capital1 Solar Spikers in PVL All-Filipino Conference.
Former DLSU teammates Thea Gagate and Leila Cruz embraced the thrill of facing off for the first time in the professional ranks during ZUS Coffee’s straight-sets win over Capital1, 31-29, 25-15, 25-15, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig on Saturday, Jan. 25.
Gagate, the first overall pick, and Cruz, the second overall selection in the inaugural PVL Draft, previously shared the court as teammates with the Lady Spikers.
The two even helped La Salle win the UAAP Season 86 crown.
Now on opposing sides, both players expressed excitement and nostalgia as they navigated their first head-to-head encounter as professionals.
“Exciting lang kasi first time nga namin and medyo naninibago pa kami sa ganitong set up since matagal kaming magkasama nung college. Parang excited lang kami sa experience sa PVL," Gagate said during the post-game press conference.
[ALSO READ: Thea Gagate living up to expectations as ZUS Coffee’s focal point in PVL All-Filipino Conference]
Despite now wearing different jerseys, the connection they built during their years at La Salle remains strong.
"Well, lately di pa masyado pero from time to time we try to update. Happy lang din kami kung saan kami ngayon and nagka-kamustahan and nagwi-wish kami ng best of luck sa isa't isa," Gagate added.
For Cruz, the match was an opportunity to relive their bond, albeit from opposite sides of the net.
"Super grateful na nakakalaro and happy kasi kahit sa other side na siya, at least we still have that connection na [na-build] namin sa La Salle," Cruz told reporters.
Though they had no prior exchanges before the game, Cruz admitted that brief eye contact during the match brought back memories of their time together.
"Before this game, wala naman pero kanina during parang nagkaka-eye contact lang kami ganun," Cruz said with a smile.
[ALSO READ: PVL: After career-high performance, Leila Cruz embraces bigger responsibility for Capital1]
Now on different teams and new chapters in their lives, the DLSU bond between Gagate and Cruz remains strong.