Thea Gagate of the Zus Coffee Thunderbelles. PVL Media Bureau/file photo
MANILA – Thea Gagate proved to be as good as advertised following a stellar debut season in the professional ranks.
The towering middle blocker backed the hype of her much-anticipated entry to the Premier Volleyball League with huge contributions in turning ZUS Coffee’s fortunes around after selecting her as the top overall pick in the inaugural Rookie Draft last Year.
Her impact on the Thunderbelles and the league made her the hands-down choice for Rookie of the Year honors at the coming Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night, which will be held on May 28 at Novotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City.
Gagate’s presence powered ZUS Coffee to a first-ever playoff appearance in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.
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The three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker out of La Salle took the Thunderbelles to greater heights from a winless squad in their first two seasons to contenders after surviving the Play-In round and even pushed eventual champion Petro Gazz to its limits in the quarterfinals.
Gagate earned her historic recognition in the formal awards rites presented by ArenaPlus after garnering a weighted score of 148.1 points in the selection that factors in 50% statistics, 30% media votes, and 20% team votes.
The 6-foot-2 middle blocker topped all departments with 46.6 statistical points, 65.7 points from media votes, and 35.8 from team votes, besting Cignal’s All-Filipino top rookie Ishie Lalongisip (125.8), PLDT setter Angge Alcantara (105.5), and her teammate Shar Ancheta (99.6).
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During her debut in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, Gagate led the league in total blocks with 48, ranking second in the department with a 0.74 per set average. She was the top scorer among middle blockers and 14th overall with 190 points to win one of the two Best Middle Blocker awards.
Her recognition comes alongside 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.
Van Sickle led all outside hitters with a weighted score of 195.36 after ending Creamline’s dynasty for Petro Gazz’s maiden All-Filipino crown.
Pons joined her by tallying 150.49 points following a grand slam season that included Reinforced Conference MVP and Finals MVP honors.
In the middle blocker position, PLDT’s Majoy Baron and Creamline’s Bea De Leon stood out with 232.4 and 229.4 weighted scores, respectively, for their defensive command and timely attacks.
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Trisha Tubu of Farm Fresh claimed the Best Opposite Hitter award with a season-high 419.8 total points, establishing herself as one of the most dominant scorers of the season.
Cignal’s Gel Cayuna earned the Best Setter award with 326.4 points, steering her team’s offense with poise and tactical awareness.
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Rounding out the elite selection was libero and Comeback Player of the Year Alyssa Eroa, who amassed 266.0 points thanks to her sharp court instincts and unwavering defense during her stint with Galeries Tower.
The awards night for the pioneering volleyball league organized by Sports Vision marks a milestone for the PVL and its Press Corps in recognizing the league’s top individual performers from the 2024 Reinforced Conference to the 2025 AFC.
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