Set on Gagate at No. 1, Zus eyes other young talents

Thea Gagate at the PVL Rookie Draft combine.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Jerry Yee is now looking at his first pick in the second round of the PVL Draft next month in order to perk up Zus Coffee’s chances the best way he can when the Thunderbelles campaign in the import-laced Reinforced Conference next month.

With Yee making up his mind in selecting the towering Thea Gagate first overall, he and the rest of coaching staff are now looking at the rest of the 46-strong pool and are praying that none of the other teams picking second to 12th overall grabs the young talents available.

“It’s a consensus on who No. 1 is—you need her height and mobility,” Yee said in a mix of Filipino when asked on who Zus will make as the historic first overall choice in the first-ever Draft proceedings. “Management still has to approve (selection of Gagate), but we already agreed on the name we want.”

Barring any hiccups, Gagate will be joining the core of NCAA champion College of St. Benilde like MVP and setter Cloanne Mondonedo, Gayle Pascual, Jade Gentapa and Michelle Gamit.

“So I am here now to look at the 13th pick,” said Yee, who watched the Draft Combine in Mandaluyong

The 6-foot-2 Gagate concluded a productive UAAP career at La Salle, where she won one title, and was one of the stars for Alas Pilipinas when it bagged a historic bronze medal in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Challenge Cup last month.

She still is part of the Alas pool, which could have her miss some games in the Reinforced with the national team to play in a couple of tournaments while the PVL is ongoing.

“I am very honored that I am their first choice and I am grateful for it, so I just hope that I will get there soon,” said Gagate, a three-time first Best Middle Blocker in the UAAP.

“For my part, I’ll just do my best to help the team rise through the rankings in the PVL,” she added.

Yee said that he still has a lot of spots to fill up and is hoping against hope that the other teams would grab the seasoned players in the pool on July 8. INQ