SOMEHOW, some way, Thea Gagate thought there would be issues with the La Salle community following her decision to turn pro with still one year of eligibility left.
To her relief, her teammates, her school and most importantly, her coach Ramil De Jesus all gave her their blessing.
A total of 47 players are in the Premier Volleyball League's (PVL) first-ever rookie draft and towering above them all is Gagate, the 23-year-old, 6-foot-1 collegiate star.
While the UAAP's former three-time Best Middle Blocker had just recenty announced she was turning pro, there were already rumblings she was foregoing her final year as a Lady Spiker even when Season 86 was ongoing.
And so, before making her move official, Gagate made sure to tie up any and all lose ends in Taft Avenue.
“Nagpaalam talaga kami (Lady Spikers) nang maayos to maintain a good relationship with everyone kasi the volleyball community is really small so kailangan namin mag-maintain ng good relationship,” she said.
“On my part, they already expected it even before Season 86. I’m thankful din kay coach na pinayagan niya ako wholeheartedly.”
What came as a surprise for Gagate, however, was just how the year has turned out for her.
From a bronze medal run in her first national team call-up with Alas Pilipinas to her oncoming PVL debut, life couldn’t get any better for the player also known as the "Taft Tower."
“Very surprising kasi hindi ko talaga in-expect na ganito ‘yung mangyayari this year. My last collegiate season didn’t end well, but I’m very grateful as well na nakasama ako sa national team and we also won bronze," she said, referring to how she and La Salle lost their throne to National U in the Final Four.
"I hope things will go better for the rest of the year,” she said,
Thea-nswer for ZUS Coffee
Gagate is expected to be picked first overall by ZUS Coffee, whose head coach Jerry Yee, also said so after the first day of the Rookie Draft Combine last Tuesday.
READ: ZUS Coffee to make Thea Gagate the PVL's first-ever No. 1 pick
Gagate is looking forward to starting her pro career with the Thunderbelles although her new team is essentially the exact opposite of her old one.
While De Jesus and the Lady Spikers have set the bar in the UAAP for three decades running, ZUS Coffee and Yee are eager to move forward from their winless maiden campaign in the last conference, when they were still known as Strong Group Athletics.
As such, Gagate knows full well that the task ahead of her may very well be taller than her. Come July 8, she will officially become the foundation for a team determined to claw its way out of the cellar.
“Of course, I’m very honored na ako ‘yung first choice nila and I’m grateful for it. Sobra. I just hope na I will go there soon," she said.
“Siyempre, masaya (ako) kasi nakikita nila ‘yung efforts ko as a player and na-aappreciate nila ‘yun. Hopefully, mapakita ko (pa ‘yung skills ko) sa future team ko.”
At the same time, though, she's raring and ready to take the challenge head-on.
“For my part, I’ll just really do my best na matulungan ‘yung team na umangat ‘yung ranking nila sa PVL. There’s always gonna be pressure, but I’ll put that aside and just focus on working hard on myself and I’ll be good,” she said.
“It’s gonna be challenging talaga kasi, pero very exciting din kasi coming into the national team, I also wish to bring new learnings to my new team sa PVL para matulungan kong umangat ‘yung ranking nila.”
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