PVL: Communication key to ZUS Coffee’s first win

ZUS Coffee’s Thea Gagate and Jov Gonzaga
celebrate with their teammates during a win over Nxled in the PVL All-Filipino Conference. –PVL PHOTO

ANTIPOLO — No.1 overall pick Thea Gagate and the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles remain hungry for more after finally earning their first franchise win in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

Gagate, the inaugural top pick of the Rookie Draft last July, dropped 16 points off 10 kills, five blocks, and an ace to end a 20-game losing streak with a 19-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15 win over Nxled on Tuesday at Ynares Center Antipolo.

The Alas Pilipinas middle blocker believes the Thunderbelles, who were winless in the past two conferences, can get more wins, needing to polish its team communication and flaunt a fighter mentality every game.

“My mindset in every game is that we can do it. No matter what happens, we just keep fighting because, as Ate Jov [Gonzaga] says, we all have talent and potential,” said Gagate. “We just need to refine it together as a team to get the win.”

Gagate also shared that their communication was key in overcoming a first-set loss and securing their first win two games into the six-month conference.

ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles rookie Thea Gagate during a PVL All-Filipino Conference game. –PVL PHOTO

“It’s really about communication. Even though we’re new players and a new team, we just need to work hard and focus on communicating because that’s where everything starts, including teamwork,” she said.

READ: PVL: ZUS Coffee posts first franchise win, beats Nxled

The former La Salle star admitted that being ZUS Coffee’s top rookie puts a chip on her shoulder but she chooses to focus on giving her team a positive outlook through her winning experiences in the UAAP and with Alas Pilipinas.

“The pressure is there, but as I always say, I just focus on the positive side—taking it one game at a time. We really need to be patient, and hopefully, I can also share with them the things I’ve learned, especially from my time with the national team,” said Gagate.

Gagate and the Thunderbelles have more than a week to prepare for their next game against Galeries Tower on November 28 at Philsports Arena.