ZUS Coffee rookie Thea Gagate. Photo from PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines – 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Draft number one pick Thea Gagate is not new to pressure, and she has shown it as she made her debut in professional volleyball.
The UAAP Season 85 women's volleyball champion collected a team-high 13 points as ZUS Coffee put up a fight against 2024 Reinforced Conference runner-up Akari, 25-14, 25-21, 19-25, 25-23, on Thursday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
READ: PVL: Akari overcomes debuting Gagate, ZUS Coffee for 2nd win
Gagate expressed readiness, saying that she's taking the pressure in a positive way.
"Well, honestly, meron naman talagang weight, pero I just think of it in a positve way na hindi ako ma-pressure sa kakayanan ko," Gagate told reporters.
"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," she added.
The 6-foot-2 middle blocker was also happy as she made her first appearance in the pros and lauded her team for fighting.
"Super happy lang ako na, finally, dumating na 'tong day na 'to and excited lang talaga ako sa upcoming games namin sa bago kong team," Gagate said.
"Thankful ako. 'Di ko ine-expect honestly na double digits ako kasi 'yun nga, may pinagdadaanan ako on the sides but at the same time happy din ako sa result ng game namin kasi nakikita mo 'yung laban kahit na bago kaming team."
RELATED VIDEO: