Thea Gagate was among the De La Salle University rookies under the microscope on Saturday when they made their UAAP debuts during one of the biggest rivalry clashes in the local sporting scene.
How did she fare?
To say the least — the 19-year-old Gagate passed with flying colors. She turned heads while delivering 10 crucial points built on five blocks for the Lady Spikers in their statement win over defending champion Ateneo.
So it’s easy to understand the sense of happiness that washed over her almost immediately after the marquee bout.
“It feels amazing kasi matagal na pong rivalry game na ito. Pinaghandaan po talaga namin,” she bared.
“So it’s just an amazing feeling na na-accomplish namin ‘yung goal namin.”
Gagate admitted that the tension-filled atmosphere churned out by an electric crowd of 12, 907 inside the SM Mall of Asia Arena started seeping through her focus before the game started.
Fortunately, the 6-foot-2 Cebuana blocker has her sisters-in-arms and coaches to help her tune out the tension.
“Honestly, nakakakaba po siya,, pero like… Hearing from the dugout pa lang like ‘yung dreams, and ‘yung crowd na puro sigaw, nakakakaba po talaga siya,” confided the product of Nazareth School of National University. “Pero I just like relax myself na ‘di masyadong iisipin ‘yung crowd kasi ako naman ‘yung naglalaro.
She then continued, “Gina-guide din po ako ng mga ates namin na kalma lang, tapos ‘yung coaches. Since sila po ‘yung mas may experience kesa sa amin.”
Now that she’s made collegiate debut, Gagate is looking to hone her skills further as a blocker as the season goes along. After all, she knows that defense is her calling card for La Salle.
“Feeling ko, ine-expect niya [DLSU head coach Ramil De Jesus] sa ‘kin na marami akong block since I have the height and mas abot ko kesa sa mga ibang ates namin,” she bared.
“I contribute a lot in terms of blocking since I’m not that fast when it comes to spiking, so I’ll just work on my block.”
