COFFEE BREAKTHROUGH
In Greek mythology, Thea or Theia is the goddess of light, sight and vision.
For ZUS Coffee, the mortal version was enough.
After enduring months of disappointment as the only winless franchise in the Premier Volleyball League, the Thunderbelles finally notched their first-ever franchise victory after coming back to shut down Nxled, 19-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-15, on Tuesday during their All-Filipino Conference showdown.
And Thea Gagate, the league’s No. 1 overall draft pick deemed a franchise fortune changer, played a huge hand in delivering that breakthrough.
“My mindset is always that we can do it,” Gagate said after producing 16 points and unquantifiable poise during the match. “No matter what happens, we just keep fighting.”
That fight broke the Thunderbelles’ 20-game losing streak, which stretched across two winless conferences, and signaled a turning point for the fledgling franchise.
“We’re only starting,” ZUS coach Jerry Yee said.
“Even in our first conference,” he said, Yee already had faith in the squad but “we only had a few months to prepare.”
“This is exciting and the pieces are coming together so I hope things fall into place soon.”
At the heart of those pieces is Gagate, the top pick of the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft held last July.
Jacked-up hype
Gagate entered the league with sky-high expectations, which she never got to prove because her debut was delayed after being loaned to the national team.
But with her commitments to the national program now done, she finally joined ZUS Coffee for the ongoing All-Filipino Conference. But that hiatus only heightened the anticipation of her debut—and jacked-up hype.
“The pressure is there, but I always look on the positive side,” Gagate admitted. “One game at a time. We really have to work hard. Hopefully, I can share what I’ve learned, especially from the national team.”
A debut loss to Akari could have sent Gagate’s confidence plunging.
But even before the conference started, the Thunderbelles front office pulled off a signing coup that not only added firepower to the team’s offense but also a steadying factor to guide ZUS’ prized rookie through her first professional tournament.
ZUS picked up Jovelyn Gonzaga from Cignal and her presence helped stabilize a crew filled with youngsters.
“Veterans like … Jov [Gonzaga] really bring control and composure to the team,” said Yee, the only coach the Thunderbelles have ever known. “They know how to adjust the tempo and execute when it matters. That’s something we lacked in the previous conferences.”
Gonzaga led the team with 23 points on a blistering 67 percent attack efficiency. Her performance helped take the spotlight off Gagate, allowing the 6-foot-2 youngster to feel her way into the game.
“[My mindset is always] that I need to step up because once I do, my teammates can gain confidence from me,” Gonzaga said. “At the same time, I really have huge trust in their talent and potential.”
With Gonzaga lighting up the scoreboard, Gagate was free to remind everyone of what she’s capable of on both sides of the ball: Her total output came from 10 kills, five blocks and an ace.
College core
“Communication was key,” Gagate said of the win. “[Because] we’re new players and a new team, we just have to work at it.”
The Thunderbelles’ struggles in their first two conferences were well-documented. They joined the league as the Strong Group Athletics earlier this year, using the core of college champion St. Benilde for its main rotation. Despite moments of promise, the team went winless in both the All-Filipino and Reinforced conferences.
But this season, ZUS Coffee retooled its roster. Building around Gagate, the Thunderbelles not only signed Gonzaga but also picked up veteran Chai Troncoso and added youngsters Kate Santiago and Chinnie Arroyo.
The team now sits at a 1-1 record in the six-month conference, with a match against Galeries Tower set for Nov. 28. For Gagate and her teammates, the challenge is to build on their momentum and prove that this win was no fluke.
“We’re very happy to get our first win,” said Cloanne Mondoñedo, the team’s captain. “It’s a huge morale booster for us. This will help us play better and believe in ourselves.”
“Communication and teamwork will take us far,” Gagate said. “We have the talent. Now it’s about putting it all together.”
