Thea Gagate is making her towering presence felt for La Salle, which has regained its winning form in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
When De La Salle faltered over UST and suffered its first defeat in the UAAP Season 86, Thea Gagate and the rest of the Lady Spikers were jolted to their senses.
"Wala namang may gusto na matalo kaya kailangan din namin yung game na 'yun," Gagate said.
"Wake up call 'yun sa amin and mas kailangan namin mag focus sa bawa't galaw."
For Gagate, the aspect of La Salle's game that she has decided to focus on is net defense.
The 6-foot-2 middle blocker anchored the net with five denials when the defending champions regained their winning form versus arch-rivals Ateneo Lady Eagles last Saturday.
Gagate then followed it up with another five-block showing, accounting for half of La Salle's 10 rejections in a rout of the Casiey Dongallo-led UE on Wednesday.
"Ang iniisip ko lang is 'yun nga kailangan nang ma-maximize 'yung strength ko which is blockings. Mas doon yung dapat mas extra focused ako," Gagate shared.
La Salle is currently on a winning high with a 4-1 record, after scoring back-to-back victories in lopsided manners.
But Gagate insists the Lady Spikers have yet to show their maximum potential.
"Then again, mas kailangan pa namin i-maximize 'yung strengths namin and more on lessen 'yung errors kasi I feel like mas may kaya pa kami ilabas," she opined.
Gagate and La Salle look to further refine their form and sustain momentum when they collide with UP on March 10, Sunday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.