ANTIPOLO — Thea Gagate won’t let the promise of a young ZUS Coffee team go unfulfilled.
Her delayed entry to the Thunderbelles as the PVL Draft’s inaugural No. 1 pick had come with sky-high expectations that she's the savior that can turn the cellar-dwellers’ fate around at the soonest possible possible.
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Following her 16-point showcase in ZUS Coffee’s breakthrough 19-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15 win over NXLED, the 6-foot-2 middle blocker was both thrilled and relieved to see the weight of expectations lifted from her shoulders.
“‘Yung pressure siguro nandu’n, pero as what I always say, I just look at the positive side na one game at a time, kailangan talaga namin tiyagain," said the former star of the title-winning La Salle side in UAAP women's volleyball.
Although the young team is still in the process of building a dependable core, Gagate said she has taken it upon herself to inspire confidence in her teammates while striving to be a more vocal leader on the court.
I also helps that she has a new veteran teammate in Jovelyn Gonzaga to help out.
“Mindset ko lang always sa game is kaya namin. Kahit anong mangyari, laban lang nang laban,” said Gagate. “Sabi nga ni ate Jov, lahat kami may talent and potential. Kailangan lang naming puliduhin together as a team para makuha 'yung panalo.”
The PVL’s first-ever No. 1 draft pick also emphasizes the importance of communication as ZUS Coffee strives to be competitive against the PVL's premier sides.
“‘Yung communication talaga kasi kahit sabihin natin na bago kaming players, bago kaming team. Kailangan lang namin tiyagain through communication kasi du’n talaga magsisimula lahat pati 'yung teamwork.”
“Hopefully, pwede rin ako magturo sa kanila ng mga natutunan ko, especially with the national team.”
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