MANILA, Philippines — From La Salle teammates to pro competitors, ZUS Coffee’s first overall pick Thea Gagate relished her first duel with Capital1’s top rookie Leila Cruz in the 2024-25 PVL All-Filipino Conference on Saturday night at Philsports Arena.

ZUS Coffee may have dominated Capital1 after a neck-and-neck first set with a 31-29, 25-15, 25-15 sweep but Gagate enjoyed her first PVL game against fellow ex-Lady Spiker Cruz.

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“Exciting lang kasi first time nga namin and medyo naninibago pa kami sa ganitong set up since matagal kaming magkasama nung college. Parang excited lang kami sa experience sa PVL,” said Gagate, who dropped eight points including two blocks.

READ: PVL: ZUS Coffee regains winning touch, sweeps Capital1

“Happy lang din kami kung saan kami ngayon and nagkakamustahan and nagwi-wish kami ng best of luck sa isa’t isa.”

Cruz, who saw limited action due to a minor knee problem and had four points, was also proud of Gagate after they turned pro and became the first two picks of the first-ever Rookie Draft last year.

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“Super grateful na nakakalaro ko pa rin si Thea and happy na kahit sa other side na siya, at least we still have that connection namin sa La Salle,” said the Capital1 rookie.

Gagate missed the Reinforced Conference due to her stint with Alas Pilipinas, while Cruz was a vital part of the Solar Spikers’ impressive run in the import-laden tournament, leading her team to a breakthrough quarterfinal appearance with Marina Tushova.

Both La Salle stars last played together in the UAAP Season 85 in 2023 only for Cruz to suffer an ACL injury. The Lady Spikers won the championship in the same year but settled for bronze last year.

READ: PVL: Gagate gets better of ex-teammate Coronel in ZUS win

Now on different paths, Gagate, a three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker, charged every game to her experience as the young Thunderbelles continue to grow and improve with a 3-4 record. 

“Thankful ako na nakapag-experience ako ng ganung level of games, especially nung nagka-five setter kami both teams,” said Gagate, following a pair of five-set losses to Creamline and Choco Mucho. “Malaking bagay siya for me as a rookie and also ‘yung experience ko nung national team kasi at least in that game aware ako sa tendencies ng mga naging teammates ko nun so malaking bagay talaga siya.”

Cruz, for her part, looks to address their lapses as Capital1 slid to a 1-1 record but she remained proud of the new volleyball team, which celebrated its first anniversary despite its All-Filipino struggles.

“Siguro ‘yung court awareness and ‘yung service-receive namin. Less errors din siguro (dapat) for us kasi well sa service-receive, du’n talaga nag-sstart. Need talaga namin ‘yun ma-work on and less errors,” she said. “After a year, marami nang changes and improvements naman so sobrang proud ako with our team. Siguro until now, need lang namin maging consistent with our laro para mas makakuha ng maraming wins.”