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Thea Gagate embracing leadership role as La Salle starts title defense

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Rom Anzures

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/UAAP 85 WVB DLSU vs. UE - Thea Gagate-0090.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">La Salle&#x27;s Thea Gagate (3) in action during the UAAP Season 86 women&#x27;s volleyball tournament. UAAP Media/File. </div>MANILA — The De La Salle Lady Spikers will be looking to defend the UAAP women’s volleyball title despite some of their top stars leaving for the pro ranks.Fifi Sharma, Mars Alba, Jolina Dela Cruz, and Justine Jazareno are now with their respective teams in the Premier Volleyball League, meaning that the Taft Spikers will now have to bank on some of their holdovers in DLSU star Angel Canino, Julia Coronel, and team veteran Thea Gagate.For the two-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker, it’s all about stepping up for the squad, saying that it was her teammates’ trust that made her embrace the leadership role heading into this season.“So far, mas na-embrace ko ‘rin yung role ko as team captain and starting setter of the team,” Gagate said during the league’s press conference earlier Monday at the Mall of Asia Arena.“I feel na over these past months, mas nakapagadjust na ako and tinanggap ko yung role na yun kasi na-realize ko na I was put in this position kasi malaki tiwala sa akin ng mga kasama ko and malaki tiwala sa’kin ng mga coaches.”And now that she has slowly morphed into that role, Gagate’s focus at the moment guiding her squad especially since all teams will have them marked on their calendars.“That’s what Coach Ramil [de Jesus] always says to us. Kailangan lang talaga naming pag-isipan lahat ng mga pinaghihirapan namin sa training, lahat ng sacrifices, kailangan namin ilabas ‘yun every game,” she said.Gagade, however, understands that it will be a tough task for the squad to defend the crown.“It’s normal naman to have that anxiety as a player. Parang hindi talaga ‘yun mawawala. Nandun pa rin ‘yung pressure pero at the same time, we just want to do it one step at a time,” she said.“Ayokong i-advance kaya kailangan this coming season, we’re gonna get each game one step at a time.”Meanwhile, when what her goals are this season, this is what Gagate had to offer:“Ang personal goal ko is to just give my hundred percent in every game, at ipakita kung ano ‘yung na-achieve ko in life [as a Lady Spiker]. Bawat season, iba-iba naman. Kailangan lang na malagpasan ko ‘yung performance ko last season,” she said, while also explaining that she wants to be more of a vocal leader.“Generally kailangan ko pa maging mas vocal sa loob. As a leader, kailangan ako yung huling bibigay kasi nga ako yung leader sa loob ng team, setter din ako, so kailangan more vocal and matatag ako sa loob para masasandalan ako ng mga kasama ko.”<div>RELATED VIDEO</div><div><ivs-player data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-vid="2957892"></ivs-player></div><script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script>

The De La Salle Lady Spikers will be looking to defend the UAAP women’s volleyball title despite some of their top stars leaving for the pro ranks.

The De La Salle Lady Spikers will be looking to defend the UAAP women’s volleyball title despite some of their top stars leaving for the pro ranks.