Thea Gagate

Thea Gagate
Personal information
Full nameThea Allison Ravanera Gagate
NationalityFilipino
Born (2000-07-26) July 26, 2000 (age 26)
Cebu City Philippines
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight62 kg (137 lb)
Spike314 cm (124 in)
Block300 cm (118 in)
College / UniversityDe La Salle University
Volleyball information
PositionMiddle Blocker
Current teamDenso Airybees
Number3
Career
YearsTeams
2024–2026Zus Coffee Thunderbelles
2026–presentDenso Airybees
National team
2024–presentPhilippines
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Philippines
Asian Nations Cup
Silver medal – second place2025 HanoiTeam
Bronze medal – third place2024 ManilaTeam
SEA V.League
Silver medal – second place2026 Chiang MaiLeg 2
Bronze medal – third place2024 Vĩnh PhúcLeg 1
Bronze medal – third place2024 Nakhon RatchasimaLeg 2

Thea Allison Ravanera Gagate (born July 26, 2000) is a Filipino volleyball player who is a middle blocker for the Denso Airybees of the Japanese SV.League.

Early life and education

Thea Allison Ravanera Gagate was born on July 26, 2000, in Cebu City, Philippines. Although she took up volleyball during her elementary school days at the University of San Carlos, Gagate was oblivious about the Philippine volleyball scene.

She was a model, standing six foot tall by age 15. She moved to Manila around that age to study at the NU Nazareth School for high school. Playing for the NUNS Lady Bullpups, Gagate began prioritizing volleyball over modelling.

She later moved to the De La Salle University for college, also playing for that school's volleyball team.

Career

High school

Gagate played for the NUNS Lady Bullpups. She was part of the squad which won back-to-back championships in Seasons 78 and 79 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

College

Gagate made her first senior UAAP game appearance with the De La Salle Lady Spikers in 2020. The league was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, the UAAP came back after the league had been cancelled for 2 years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her team finished in 2nd place after losing the finals against the NU Lady Bulldogs. She also received the 1st Best Middle Blocker award that season.

In 2023, her team bagged the championship title in the UAAP Season 85 after 5 years of championship drought.

Club

Gagate joined the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) via the 2024 draft. The Zus Coffee Thunderbelles selected Gagate as the first overall pick for the draft. She helped her team reach its first ever finals at the 2025 Reinforced Conference where it faced eventual champions Petro Gazz Angels.

In July 2026, Japanese club Denso Airybees of the SV.League announced they have signed in Gagate.

National team

Gagate has played for the Philippine national team, making her debut at the 2024 AVC Women's Challenge Cup. She would go on to win the "Best Middle Blocker" distinction in the 2024 SEA V.League.

Gagate has since featured for the national team in the 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup and in the 2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Cup, however she was absent for the 2025 SEA Games, despite being featured in the initial pool.

Personal life

Her younger brother, Seven Gagate, has played collegiate basketball for UP Fighting Maroons.

Clubs

Awards

Individuals

Year League Season/Conference Award Ref
2016 UAAP 78
(Junior's)		 Rookie of the Year
2017 79
(Junior's)		 1st Best Middle Blocker
2022 84
(Women's)
SSL Pre-Season
2023 UAAP 85
(Women's)
SSL Invitationals
2024 UAAP 86
(Women's)
SEA V-League First Leg

Highschool

NSNU Lady Bullpups
Year League Season/Conference Title Ref
2016 UAAP 78 Champion
2017 79 Champion

Collegiate

DLSU Lady Spikers
Year League Season/Conference Title Ref
2022 UAAP 84 Runner-Up
SSL Pre-Season Runner-Up
2023 UAAP 85 Champion
SSL Invitationals Champion
2024 UAAP 86 3rd Place

Clubs

Year League Season/Conference Club Title Ref
2025PVLReinforcedZus Coffee ThunderbellesRunner-up

References

  1. ↑ Dannug, Jonash (July 31, 2026). "Thea Gagate heads to SV.League, signs with Denso".
  2. 1 2 "2026-27シーズン新入団選手のお知らせ" [Announcement of New Players for the 2026-27 Season]. Denso Airybees (in Japanese). Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Players' Database - Thea Allison Gagate". FIVB. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Thea Allison Gagate - Players". Premier Volleyball League. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Model-turned-spiker Cebuana to lead Bulldogs' 3-peat drive". Cebu Daily News. July 9, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Caniza, Annika (November 2, 2024). "Poise Under Pressure: Thea Gagate Is Living Up To The Hype". The Game (in English and Filipino). Modern Media Group, Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  7. ↑ Caniza, Annika (November 9, 2024). "Thea Gagate Sends a Heartfelt Message to Her Younger Self". The Game. Modern Media Group, Inc. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  8. ↑ "DLSU rookie Thea Gagate stands out in UAAP Season 82 debut". GMA Network. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Is Young Louie Romero ready to be Adamson captain". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  10. ↑ Isaga, JR (June 21, 2022). "NU ends 65-year women's volleyball title search in rare 16-0 season sweep". Rappler. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Agcaoili, Lance (June 2022). "UAAP Volleyball: Eya Laure Best Scorer, Bella Belen makes case for Rookie-MVP". Inquirer Sports. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ Dalupang, Denison Rey (May 14, 2023). "La Salle dethrones NU for UAAP women's volleyball crown". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  13. ↑ Dukha, Angel III (July 9, 2024). "ZUS sticks to draft plan, picks Gagate first overall as league begins march to parity". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  14. ↑ Agcaoili, Lance (November 30, 2025). "PVL: Petro Gazz reclaims Reinforced crown, fends off ZUS Coffee". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  15. ↑ Dannug, Jonash (July 31, 2026). "Thea Gagate heads to SV.League, signs with Denso". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  16. ↑ Payo, Jasmine (May 25, 2024). "Gagate fulfills national team dream after repeat stellar AVC outing". Rappler. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  17. ↑ Agcaoili, Lance (August 4, 2024). "Jia De Guzman, Gagate bag awards in Alas Pilipinas' bronze win". Inquirer.net. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  18. ↑ Agacoili, Lance (June 8, 2026). "Thea Gagate hopes to show more after best game for Alas". Inquirer.net. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  19. ↑ Caacbay, Kennedy (December 4, 2025). "14-person Alas Pilipinas Women's team hopes to end SEA Games medal drought". ABS-CBN. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
  20. ↑ Demigillo, Kiko (March 18, 2023). "Who are UP's new recruits? LSGH big three set to take UAAP by storm". One Sports. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  21. ↑ Naredo, Camille (June 21, 2022). "UAAP: NU Lady Bulldogs rack up individual awards". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  22. ↑ Agcaoili, Lance (November 19, 2022). "NU's Alyssa Solomon wins Super League MVP". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  23. ↑ Lance Agcaoili (May 14, 2023). "La Salle's Angel Canino named UAAP women's volleyball rookie MVP". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  24. ↑ Masoy, Niel Victor (August 13, 2023). "Shevana Laput captures SSL Nat'l Invitationals MVP plum". The Manila Times. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  25. ↑ Reyes, Mark Anthony (June 22, 2022). "NU Lady Bulldogs sweep season to end 65 years drought for UAAP volleyball title". Inquirer Sports. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Dominant NU blanks DLSU, wins Shakey's Super League". Rappler. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  27. ↑ "NU forgoes finals, outlasts Adamson". Inquirer. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  28. ↑ Agcaoili, Lance (August 13, 2023). "La Salle dominates Adamson in Game 3 to win Shakey's Super League crown". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Petro Gazz reignites to take third PVL Reinforced title". Retrieved November 30, 2025.