THE proposed Alas Pilipinas draft carries a bold vision of a centralized and sustainable national team program built for longterm international gains.
But as it stands, the plan suffers from shortsightedness.
Unveiled by the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) on Tuesday, the Alas draft is being positioned as a long-term solution to recurring club vs country rows among colleges, pro clubs and the national federation.
READ: Players can't turn down being drafted to Alas, says Liao
PNVF president Tony Boy Liao believes centralizing talent under the national team is key to longterm preparation, especially with major events like the Philippines’ hosting of the 2029 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship on the horizon.
“Instead of the club teams making the first pick for this year's draft, it will be the national team. Coach Tai [Bundit] will have the first pick, whether one, whether 12, whether 15,” Liao said.
The concept sounds decisive. The implications are not.
Under the proposal, players selected by head coach Tai Bundit will sign exclusive two-year contracts with the national team via the PNVF. They will be removed from the PVL Draft pool entirely and barred from entertaining overseas offers.
In short, once drafted by Alas, there is no choice but to sign and play for the national team, and that is where the plan begins to falter.
Agency of choice
For teams, the immediate impact is clear.
The PVL’s lower-ranked squads, which rely heavily on top draft picks to accelerate rebuilds, would lose access to elite prospects.
Recent draft classes have reshaped franchises overnight. Removing the cream of the crop from the league draft undermines competitive balance and slows parity.
More concerning is the effect on the players themselves.
Professional volleyball is not a passion project. For many graduating collegiate stars, it is livelihood. Some are family breadwinners. Some are one contract away from financial stability.
Liao confirmed that drafted players cannot reject their spot. Overseas opportunities after the draft are 'not possible' and all will receive the same salary, though the exact figure remains under discussion.
For context, the 2025 PVL Draft’s top pick carries a base salary of P165,000, with room for negotiation.
|
PICK ORDER |
2025 PVL DRAFT (base/minimum salary) |
2024 PVL DRAFT (base/minimum salary) |
|
1st overall pick |
P165,000 |
P150,000 |
|
2nd overall pick |
P150,000 |
P135,000 |
|
3rd overall pick |
P135,000 |
P120,000 |
|
4th overall pick |
P120,000 |
P110,000 |
Can a uniform rate realistically match market value for top-tier prospects? And if it cannot, should athletes be prevented from earning more during their earning windows?
Patriotism cannot be legislated. Commitment cannot be forced.
The real issue
If the heart of the problem is scheduling conflicts, then that is the issue that must be addressed.
A PVL team owner previously told SPIN.ph that when players get injured during national team duty, clubs shoulder the medical costs.
“Kapag na-injure ‘yung mga players sa national team, babalik sa’min, kami magpapa-gamot kahit hindi sa’min na-injure. Sagot namin ‘yun,” the owner said.
“Kami na nga nagpahiram tapos kami pa magdurusa.”
That grievance has lingered for years.
Globally, major leagues in Japan, Korea, Italy, and Poland align their calendars to conform with the FIVB calendar, meaning all tournaments are scheduled outside the FIVB window. The Philippines does not.
This year’s FIVB women’s national team window runs from May 4 to September 4. That is four months of salary obligations without league play.
Structural scheduling reform may be difficult. Broadcasting contracts, operational continuity, and revenue streams complicate the matter.
But those challenges demand long-term solutions, not short-term control mechanisms.
Liao said, “I doubt that the teams will disagree with the proposal because it’s for the good of the Alas national team and the clubs.”
Win-win? Hardly. The PNVF plan, at best, looks like a poor cousin of the Gilas Pilipinas cadet program, which after a couple of special rookie drafts convinced both the SBP and the PBA that it won't work.
A stronger national team is a worthy goal, but stripping players of agency and clubs of competitive access may not be the right path to get there.
If this proposal reaches the draft floor, perhaps it should end the way any draft does: with everyone saying 'pass.'
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