Thea Gagate delivered on all the hype surrounding her professional debut season in the Premier Volleyball League. Selected as the top overall pick by ZUS Coffee in the inaugural Rookie Draft, she wasted no time making her mark.

Her dominant presence helped transform the Thunderbelles from a winless squad to playoff contenders. Gagate’s performance became the driving force behind ZUS Coffee’s breakthrough campaign in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference.

She guided her team past the Play-In round and gave eventual champions Petro Gazz a tough quarterfinal matchup. Her remarkable debut earned her the unanimous Rookie of the Year honor at the Pilipinas Live PVL Press Corps Awards Night on May 28 at Novotel Manila Araneta City.

Gagate Dominates Rookie Rankings

The three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker from La Salle posted a weighted score of 148.1 in the Rookie of the Year selection process. The scoring included 50 percent from statistics, 30 percent from media votes, and 20 percent from team votes.

Gagate topped all categories with 46.6 statistical points, 65.7 points from the media, and 35.8 from team votes. She edged Cignal’s Ishie Lalongisip (125.8), PLDT’s Angge Alcantara (105.5), and teammate Shar Ancheta (99.6).

In the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, Gagate led the league with 48 total blocks and averaged 0.74 blocks per set. She was also the top-scoring middle blocker and placed 14th overall in scoring with 190 points.

Her all-around performance earned her one of the two Best Middle Blocker awards. Her presence redefined ZUS Coffee’s defense and scoring capabilities throughout the season.

PVL’s Best Recognized In Awards Night

The PVL Mythical Team was also unveiled alongside Gagate’s Rookie of the Year win. Two-time MVP Brooke Van Sickle of Petro Gazz and Creamline’s Bernadeth Pons were named Best Outside Hitters.

Van Sickle posted a leading weighted score of 195.36 as she powered Petro Gazz to its first All-Filipino crown. Pons followed with 150.49 points after an MVP triple-crown season capped by Reinforced and Finals MVP awards.

Majoy Baron of PLDT and Bea De Leon of Creamline earned Best Middle Blocker honors with scores of 232.4 and 229.4, respectively. Both brought elite defense and timely offense to their teams.

Trisha Tubu of Farm Fresh secured the Best Opposite Hitter award with a staggering 419.8 total points. Gel Cayuna of Cignal earned Best Setter honors with 326.4 points thanks to her consistent playmaking and leadership.

Alyssa Eroa of Galeries Tower was named Best Libero and Comeback Player of the Year after tallying 266.0 points. Her tenacity and court vision anchored her team’s floor defense all season.

The awards ceremony celebrates top performances across the 2024 Reinforced and 2025 All-Filipino Conferences. It marks a new chapter for the league and its growing legacy of individual excellence.