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 Zus Coffee Thunderbelles (2024–2026) Denso Airybees (2026–present)
Awards
Individuals YearLeagueSeason/ConferenceAwardRef2016UAAP78(Junior's) Rookie of the Year201779(Junior's) 1st Best Middle Blocker202284(Women's) SSLPre-Season2023UAAP85(Women's)SSLInvitationals2024UAAP86(Women's) SEA V-League First Leg
Highschool NSNU Lady Bullpups YearLeagueSeason/ConferenceTitleRef 2016UAAP78 Champion 201779 Champion
Collegiate DLSU Lady Spikers YearLeagueSeason/ConferenceTitleRef2022 UAAP84 Runner-UpSSLPre-SeasonRunner-Up2023UAAP85 ChampionSSLInvitationals Champion 2024 UAAP86 3rd Place
Clubs YearLeagueSeason/ConferenceClubTitleRef 2025 PVL Reinforced Zus Coffee Thunderbelles Runner-up
References
External links Thea Gagate at the FIVB volleyball database Profile at Premier Volleyball League