Now on opposing sides, former DLSU standouts Thea Gagate and Leila Cruz finally meet in the professional ranks.
From being star teammates on the DLSU Lady Spikers, Thea Gagate and Leila Cruz met as rivals over the weekend in a showdown of the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft’s top two overall picks.
It was Gagate getting the last laugh over Cruz in their head-to-head meeting, with ZUS Coffee scoring a 31-29, 25-15, 25-15 sweep over Capital1 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Gagate finished with a modest eight points against Capital1, while Cruz settled for four markers amid lingering right knee pain. Still, their first matchup in the pro ranks is something the two rookies will forever remember.
“Exciting lang kasi first time nga namin and medyo naninibago pa kami sa ganitong setup since matagal kami magkasama dun in college. And ayun lang, parang excited lang din kami sa mga experience namin sa PVL,” said Gagate, who played with DLSU from UAAP Seasons 82 to 86 with Cruz.
Cruz added, “Super grateful and happy na nakakalaro ko na siya kasi sa other side na siya, but we still have that connection na [nabuo] namin sa La Salle…Before this game, wala naman [prior communication] pero during the game nagkaka eye contact kami.”
Thea Gagate was picked first overall by the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles in the inaugural PVL draft last July 2024, while Capital1 selected Leila Cruz second overall. Despite a quiet first meeting, both have proven to be worthy cornerstones for their respective pro teams.
Gagate is the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference’s ninth-leading scorer with 91 points after seven games, and has been instrumental to ZUS Coffee’s rise to contention. Cruz, meanwhile, is Capital1’s top gunner with 76 points despite the Solar Spikers’ 1-6 start in the All-Filipino wars.
While they now play for different teams, both Gagate and Cruz will have each other to lean on as they go through the growing pains as newcomers in the professional volleyball scene.
“Well lately, ‘di pa masyado [nakakapag-usap] pero you know, from time to time we try to update kasi friends kami. Pero ‘yun nga, happy lang din kami kung saan kami ngayon and nagkakamustahan and nag-wish lang kami ng best of luck sa isa’t isa,” said Gagate.
Images courtesy of the Premier Volleyball League.