Thea Gagate tells PVL Rookie Draft aspirants: Don’t overthink

MANILA, Philippines–Take it from the Rookie of the Year herself.

Thea Gagate is aware of precisely what it feels love to be a hopeful within the Premier Volleyball League Draft, and now, she’s providing recommendation to the 60 aspirants making an attempt their success this June 8 at Novotel.

Gagate, the primary general select in closing yr’s draft, had some phrases of knowledge for the incoming batch as they get ready for the PVL Draft Combine on Friday and Saturday at Paco Arena.

FULL LIST: 2025 PVL Rookie Draft 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,” stated Gagate in Filipino after being named Rookie of the Year on the Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night on Wednesday.

The three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker from La Salle was once decided on first general by means of ZUS Coffee within the inaugural Rookie Draft. She in an instant made her presence felt, serving to flip a winless squad right into a playoff contender within the 2024–25 All-Filipino Conference. Gagate additionally received a Best Middle Blocker award in her rookie season.

Awardees of the inaugural PVL Press Corps Awards Night together with the contributors of the Press Corps. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web

Looking forward to the brand new draft elegance, Gagate couldn’t disguise her pleasure over the deep ability pool led by means of three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen and her former La Salle teammates Alleiah Malaluan, Jyne Soreño, Jules Tolentino, and Jessa Ordiales.

READ: Thea Gagate earns PVL Press Corps Rookie of the Year honors

“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,” she stated.

Gagate, who continues to make stronger her sport no longer only for ZUS Coffee but in addition for the nationwide group, is worked up to play together with her new teammates at Alas Pilipinas once they compete in different world tournaments this yr in preparation for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in 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,” Gagate stated.

“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.”

Alas Pilipinas will compete within the AVC Nations League, the place it received bronze closing yr, adopted by means of a VTV International Cup marketing campaign each in Vietnam in June.