ZUS Coffee, formerly known as Strong Group Athletics, earned the right to select the No. 1 overall pick after winning the Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft lottery on Monday night.

The Thunderbelles entered the lottery with a 40 percent chance—the highest odds among the four teams included in the lottery—to secure the top pick after finishing the season-opening All-Filipino Conference with a league-worst 0-11 record.

“First of all, we’re very happy for ZUS Coffee kasi kami yung first pick so we have a bigger chance or better chance [na makita] kung sino yung pipiliin namin,” said Farm Fresh assistant Justine Dorog, who spoke for head coach Jerry Yee.

“Kasi since kami yung first, mas makakapili kami kung sino talaga yung best for the team. I hope na yung first team namin, makatulong talaga siya sa team,” she added.

Thea Gagate, a 23-year-old, 6-foot-2 middle blocker who played a pivotal role in La Salle’s UAAP Season 85 title run and Alas Pilipinas’ bronze finish in the recent AVC Challenge Cup for Women, is tipped to be the top overall pick in the historic draft.

Yee confirmed that the Thunderbelles would select Gagate if they secured the No. 1 selection in the draft.

“Consensus naman yun kung sinong number one jan kasi mas kailangan mo yun e. Height, mobility,” Yee said during the PVL Draft Combine at Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong City yesterday.

The first-ever PVL Draft will take place on July 8 at the Novotel Manila Araneta City.

ZUS Coffee’s top overall pick will join College of Saint Benilde stars NCAA Season 99 MVP Clo Mondoñedo, Gayle Pascual, Jade Gentapa and Michelle Gamit.

Meanwhile, Capital1 will have the second overall pick after capping its maiden campaign with 1-10 finish.

Galeries Tower landed the third pick, while Farm Fresh will select fourth.

Completing the draft order are Nxled (5th), Akari (6th), Cignal (7th), PLDT (8th), Chery Tiggo (9th), Petro Gazz (10th), Choco Mucho (11th), and defending All-Filipino Conference champion Creamline (12th).

Former PVL conference MVP winners Brooke Van Sickle of PetroGazz, Sisi Rondina of Choco Mucho, and Ces Molina of Cignal drew the ballots, with league commissioner Sherwin Meneses and Games and Amusement Board representative Eliza Roman present at the ceremony held at the TV5 Media Center.