‘Don’t overthink’: Former No. 1 PVL Rookie Draft pick Thea Gagate shares advice for draft aspirants

The first-ever Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft took place last year, and as expected, Thea Gagate emerged as the top pick after being selected by the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.

Gagate lived up to the hype and expectations in her rookie PVL season. The middle blocker was honored for her outstanding performances by being named Rookie of the Year at the Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night on Wednesday, May 28.

The 24-year-old understands the pressure that comes with entering the Rookie Draft and offered some advice to this year’s aspirants.

“I wish all of them the best of luck. Don’t overthink things too much. Even if things don’t go as expected, everything will work out in the long run. I’m super excited! A lot of UAAP stars are entering the draft, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them. I hope I get to play with some of my former teammates again here at ZUS,” Gagate said.

Gagate has not only impressed at the club level but has also made her mark on the Philippine women’s volleyball national team. She was named Best Middle Blocker in Leg 1 of the 2024 Southeast Asian Volleyball League, helping Alas Pilipinas win the bronze medal. She became the first Filipino player to win the award since Majoy Baron earned the title in both legs of the 2019 tournament.

YOUR ROTY ✨

Thea Gagate of the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles are your #PVLPCAwards Rookie of the Year! pic.twitter.com/Ysk19OsXU4

— PVL Press Corps (@PVLPressCorps) May 28, 2025

Gagate tallied three blocks in their opening loss to Vietnam and added three more crucial blocks in Alas Pilipinas’ bronze medal victory over Indonesia. She shared the Best Middle Blocker honor with Vietnam’s Dinh Thi Tra Giang.

Looking ahead, the middle blocker is excited for the international volleyball calendar. Alas Pilipinas is set to compete in several tournaments in preparation for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, scheduled for November.

“Our national team pool is really exciting right now, especially since it includes a mix of UAAP and PVL stars. As we get closer to the upcoming tournaments, training is getting tougher, but overall, I’m just really looking forward to it.

Personally, I always remind myself that I can’t do it all on my own. I really look up to my older teammates because they’ve had more experience with international games. I’m just really grateful that they’re there to guide and support us,” she added.

Gagate will aim to continue her strong form when Alas Pilipinas competes in both the AVC Nations League and the VTV International Cup, scheduled to be held in Vietnam this June.

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