Thea Gagate lived up to expectations — and then some — following a stellar debut season in the professional ranks.
The towering middle blocker validated the hype surrounding her highly anticipated entry into the Premier Volleyball League (PVL), making a significant impact in turning around ZUS Coffee’s fortunes after being selected as the top overall pick in the inaugural Rookie Draft last year.
Her transformative presence not only revitalized the Thunderbelles, but also made her the unanimous choice for Rookie of the Year at the upcoming Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night, scheduled for May 28 at Novotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City.
Gagate was instrumental in leading ZUS Coffee to its first-ever playoff appearance in the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference.
The three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker from La Salle elevated the Thunderbelles from a winless squad in their first two seasons into playoff contenders. The team survived the Play-In round and even pushed eventual champions Petro Gazz to the limit in the quarterfinals.
In the selection process for Rookie of the Year — presented by ArenaPlus — Gagate amassed a weighted score of 148.1 points, which included 50% from statistics, 30% from media votes, and 20% from team votes.
She topped all categories with 46.6 statistical points, 65.7 points from media votes, and 35.8 from team votes, edging out other top rookies such as Cignal’s Ishie Lalongisip (125.8), PLDT’s Angge Alcantara (105.5), and ZUS teammate Shar Ancheta (99.6).
During her debut conference, Gagate led the league in total blocks with 48, and ranked second in block average at 0.74 per set. She was the top-scoring middle blocker and finished 14th overall in scoring with 190 points, earning her one of the two Best Middle Blocker awards.
Her recognition coincides with the announcement of the PVL Mythical Team, headlined by two-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle of Petro Gazz and Creamline’s Bernadeth Pons, both selected as Best Outside Hitters.
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Van Sickle dominated the voting with a 195.36 weighted score, leading Petro Gazz to its first-ever All-Filipino title and ending Creamline’s dynasty.
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Pons followed with 150.49 points, capping off a grand slam season that included Reinforced Conference MVP and Finals MVP honors.
In the middle blocker category, PLDT’s Majoy Baron and Creamline’s Bea De Leon stood out with 232.4 and 229.4 weighted scores, respectively, thanks to their commanding presence at the net.
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Trisha Tubu of Farm Fresh took home the Best Opposite Hitter award with a season-high 419.8 total points, solidifying her status as one of the league’s most dominant scorers.
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Cignal’s Gel Cayuna claimed the Best Setter honor with 326.4 points, steering her team with strategic playmaking and poise.
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Rounding out the elite group was Alyssa Eroa, libero of Galeries Tower and recipient of the Comeback Player of the Year award. She earned 266.0 points for her sharp instincts and unrelenting defense.
The PVL Press Corps Awards Night, organized by Sports Vision, celebrates a landmark moment for the league as it honors top individual performers from the 2024 Reinforced Conference through the 2025 All-Filipino Conference.
