ZUS Coffee selects Thea Gagate as the first overall pick of the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft at Novotel Manila Araneta City on July 8, 2024. PVL Media Group

PVL Draft- Thea Gagate-7271

Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil" style="width:900px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720601793754PVL Draft- Thea Gagate-7271.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">ZUS Coffee selects Thea Gagate as the first overall pick of the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft at Novotel Manila Araneta City on July 8, 2024. <em>PVL Media Group</em></span></span></span></div><p><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);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">MANILA – </span>ZUS Coffee, formerly known as Strong Group Athletics, is pinning its hopes on its Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft prized selections to rebuild and improve its ranking in the upcoming Reinforced Conference.</p><p>Head coach Jerry Yee is confident in the team&#x27;s overhauling project after they acquired the services of number one overall pick Alas Pilipinas standout and De La Salle University product Thea Gagate from a talent-rich pool on Monday at Novotel Manila Araneta City.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/8/gagate-goes-1st-overall-as-la-salle-players-taken-early-in-pvl-draft-1550"><strong>READ: Gagate goes 1st overall as La Salle players taken early in PVL Draft</strong></a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/9/pvl-leila-cruz-hopes-to-bring-justice-to-capital1-s-2nd-overall-pick-1951"><strong>READ: PVL: Leila Cruz hopes to &#x27;bring justice&#x27; to Capital1&#x27;s 2nd overall pick</strong></a></div><p>In the succeeding rounds, the Thunderbelles selected Adamson University&#x27;s Shar Ancheta and Nikka Yandoc, while Jenina Zeta of the University of the East also made the cut.</p><p>SGA placed last in the last All-Filipino Conference and finished with a 0-11 win-loss card.</p><p>&quot;We hope to maximize our picks and make the most of the talents we’ve acquired,&quot; said Yee. &quot;We are very happy with our selections, and we have filled the positions we needed with the available players who meet our requirements.&quot;</p><p>Yee also made a remark on Gagate&#x27;s height, which, according to him, is crucial in the import-laden conference which starts next week.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/26/why-thea-gagate-julia-coronel-were-excused-from-day-2-of-draft-combine-2115"><strong>READ: Why Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel were excused from Day 2 of Draft Combine</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Height is crucial, especially when competing against imports in the Reinforced and All-Filipino Conferences,&quot; he said. &quot;Thea’s height is a significant advantage. If we can get a good pass, her height makes it difficult for opponents to stop us. Her blocking is also a considerable asset. Any team in the PVL would be fortunate to have her.&quot;</p><p>The UAAP best middle blocker also expressed her desire to help ZUS Coffee but acknowledged the mounting pressure of being the number one pick.</p><p>&quot;Of course, there’s always gonna be pressure but I’m just really excited as well and as I always say. I hope na I will do my best to help the team and rank up in the PVL,&quot; Gagate said.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/25/thea-gagate-grateful-for-coach-ramil-s-blessing-ahead-of-pvl-draft-1647"><strong>READ: Thea Gagate grateful for Coach Ramil&#x27;s &#x27;blessing&#x27; ahead of PVL Draft</strong></a></div><p>&quot;For me, nando&#x27;n talaga yung kaba. Hindi pa rin talaga nawawala kasi even though I know na I’m their top pick, ando&#x27;n pa rin yung bigat kahit papaano. But then I’m also very grateful na na-appreciate nila yung talent ko and ako yung na-pick nila.&quot;</p><p>However, Gagate won&#x27;t be wearing her ZUS Coffee jersey until she concludes her national team duties with Alas.</p><p>The team will be having Gayle Pascual, Cloanne Mondoñedo, Jade Gentapa and Michelle Gamit, along with holdovers Dolly Verzosa and MJ Onofre and Japanese import Asaka Tamaru in its arsenal.</p><p>Still, the ex-Farm Fresh coach vowed that ZUS Coffee will fight in the tourney.</p><p>&quot;We will fight, of course. Winning is a process, and we hope it doesn’t take us too long to improve to their level. Experience, age, and power all play a role, but we are committed to the journey,&quot; said Yee.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hvTNVlofXfg??si=E2-6u7z_u19FvTm_&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>ZUS Coffee, formerly known as Strong Group Athletics, is pinning its hopes on its Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft prized selections to rebuild and improve its ranking in the upcoming Reinforced Conference.</p>

ZUS Coffee, formerly known as Strong Group Athletics, is pinning its hopes on its Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft prized selections to rebuild and improve its ranking in the upcoming Reinforced Conference.

PVL: Rebranding ZUS Coffee pins hopes on Rookie Draft prize Gagate in upcoming Reinforced Conference | ABS-CBN

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PVL: Rebranding ZUS Coffee pins hopes on Rookie Draft prize Gagate in upcoming Reinforced Conference

PVL: Rebranding ZUS Coffee pins hopes on Rookie Draft prize Gagate in upcoming Reinforced Conference

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 10, 2024 05:15 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

women's volleyball

Premier Volleyball League

PVL Reinforced Conference

ZUS Coffee

Thea Gagate

Jerry Yee

PVL Rookie Draft

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