Thea Gagate signs with Japan’s Denso Airybees

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipina middle blocker Thea Gagate will take her volleyball talent to Japan after agreeing to a deal with the Denso Airybees, as announced on July 31, 2026.

With the signing, Gagate became the third Filipina to play as an Asian import for the Airybees, following the stints of Jaja Santiago and Jia Morado-De Guzman.

“We would like to thank you for your warm support to Denso Airybees,” the club posted on its official Instagram account.

“We would like to inform you that we have decided to sign Thea Allison Gagate. Thank you for your continued support.”

Before joining the prestigious Japanese SV.League club, Gagate was the first overall pick in the inaugural Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft in 2024.

The former De La Salle University superstar immediately made an impact upon joining the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles, helping transform the franchise from a cellar-dwelling team into a playoff contender.

After a year, Gagate’s defensive brilliance helped ZUS Coffee advance to its first PVL playoff appearance, while she earned Rookie of the Year honors.

Gagate further cemented her legacy with the Thunderbelles when she steered the team to a silver-medal finish in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.

However, on July 1, 2026, multiple reports surfaced that Gagate had not renewed her contract with ZUS Coffee after receiving offers from several overseas teams.

The reports were confirmed when Denso announced that it had signed Gagate to a contract, making her eligible to suit up for the Airybees after the 2026 SEA V. League.

Gagate was included in the final Alas Pilipinas women’s national volleyball team roster for the international tournament alongside Alyssa Solomon, Bella Belen, Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler, and De Guzman.

Completing the Alas squad that recently arrived in Vietnam are Dell Palomata, Fifi Sharma, Mars Alba, Justine Jazareno, Jen Nierva, and Dawn Macandili-Catindig.