ZUS Coffee’s top overall pick Thea Gagate was thrilled to share the court once again with long-time La Salle and Alas Pilipinas teammate Julia Coronel—this time as rivals—in the 2024-25 Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference.
Gagate and the Thunderbelles faced off against Coronel’s Galeries Tower on Thursday night, marking the first time the two former teammates competed against each other.
The top overall pick of the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft expressed her delight at the progress Coronel has made since they parted ways and shared her happiness in seeing her former teammate play a crucial role for the Highrisers.
“Exciting lang din kasi pinag-usapan namin ito before. Happy lang din ako sa na-improve ni Julia so far and excited lang din ako sa upcoming transition namin sa pro league,” said the 6-foot-2 middle blocker.
(C) PVL Images
Gagate prevailed over Coronel this time as ZUS Coffee secured a 25-22, 25-16, 25-19 victory against Galeries Tower—their second consecutive win after enduring a 20-game losing streak spanning the 2024 All-Filipino Conference to the start of this tournament.
The two-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker scored nine points, including three kill blocks, while Coronel dished out eight excellent sets in the Highrisers’ fourth consecutive loss.
On a different note, Gagate expressed her satisfaction in helping the Thunderbelles move in the right direction after their winless campaigns.
“Yes, of course, ‘yun ‘yung personally ‘yung goal ko din is makatulong talaga para makakuha ng panalo sa team namin, and although we’re a new team, parang halos lahat kami puro bata, we just wanted to give a new energy for this conference,” she said.
(C) PVL Images
ZUS Coffee, after earning its first franchise win last November 18 following a four-set victory over Nxled, is now on a two-game winning streak—marking the first time the Thunderbelles have scored back-to-back victories since joining the league.
The win over the Highrisers also marked the first time the team swept an opponent.
“Happy ako kasi na-translate namin kung ano ‘yung pinagtatrainingan namin so far, so hopefully lang tuloy-tuloy ‘yung transition and para makakuha ng more wins,” said Gagate.
“Thankful ako syempre sa mga kasama ko kasi ginugusto din nilang maglaro para sa team. Hindi lang naman ‘yun ‘yung goal ko, it’s a team effort talaga, so happy lang din ako na pati coaches, management, players gusto talaga nilang ayusin and buuin para maging malakas pa kami as a team,” she added.
