Zus Coffee Thunderbelles' Thea Gagate and Galeries Tower Highrisers' Julia Coronel. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA, Philippines – Zus Coffee top rookie Thea Gagate was glad to see fellow ex-De La Salle Lady Spiker Julia Coronel of Galeries Tower Highrisers thrive in the professional volleyball scene.
READ: PVL: Zus Coffee rolls past Galeries for back-to-back wins
Gagate and Coronel both entered the professional league through the 2024 PVL Rookie Draft after concluding their last season together in college with a bronze medal finish in the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
The two were also part of the title-clinching roster of La Salle in the UAAP Season 85.
READ: Gagate, Coronel set for La Salle exit, to banner PVL draft
Both were sidelined in the past conference due to Alas Pilipinas national team duties, but finally, this time, they were able to battle each other in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
It was Gagate and the Thunderbelles who snatched the win, 25-22, 25-16, 25-19, on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
READ: PVL: Julia Coronel hopes to carve own legacy in the pros
The 6-foot-2 middle said they had been talking about this moment even before, and they were, by then, "excited."
"Exciting lang din kasi pinag-usapan namin ito before," said Gagate.
Gagate was also happy to see the development of Coronel, who has played as a setter and spiker for Galeries.
"Happy lang din ako sa na-improve ni Julia so far, and excited lang din ako sa upcoming transition namin sa pro league," she added.
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