CANDON, Ilocos Sur — Thea Gagate was a crucial cog as Alas Pilipinas rebounded from a five-set loss against Australia.
The towering Gagate led Alas with a team-high 11 points on eight attacks, two blocks, and an ace, as the national squad demolished Kyrgyzstan, 25-9, 25-11, 25-17, in the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup Pool A on Monday at the Candon City Arena here.
For the Zus Coffee Thunderbelle, she is just trying to give her all whenever she has the opportunity, applying all the learnings from previous tourneys she was in with the national team.
READ: AVC: Alas Pilipinas squanders 1-set lead, falls to Australia
“For me, gusto ko lang talaga ibigay ‘yung best ko and gusto ko lang din ma-apply ‘yung mga natutunan ko nga in the past tournaments sa national team,” said Gagate.
“Hopefully, mas marami pa akong maipakita especially sa upcoming games since important din ‘yung games na ‘yun,” she added.
Gagate said they took it to heart their lapses against the Volleyroos to adjust for today’s game.
“Inisip lang namin ‘yung mga lapses namin nung last game, and ginawan lang namin ng paraan para maka-recover and mabalik ‘yung kumpiyansa ng bawat isa.”
Gagate and Alas, at 2-1, hope to clinch a win tomorrow against South Korea to boost their chances for a semifinal spot in the competition presented by the PSC, FIVB, AVC, Volleyball World and Candon City headed by Mayor Eric Singson.
Only the top two teams of each group will advance to the Final Four.