FOR the first time since 2017 in its current iteration, the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) will host a rookie draft on July 8, aiming to establish a structured pathway for emerging talents and promote competitive balance.
Similar to other professional sports leagues, the drafting process aims to circumvent bidding wars and ensure a fair mechanism for player acquisitions.
Here's a comprehensive guide to the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft, covering everything from the drafting procedures to eligibility requirements and significant dates:
Draft Lottery and Order
A four-team draft lottery, featuring the bottom four squads from the recently concluded 2024 PVL All-Filipino Conference, will determine the draft order for the first to fourth picks.
In a departure from the traditional approach of awarding the first pick to the lowest-ranked team, the draft lottery aims to deter strategic underperformance, known as 'tanking.'
Among the bottom four teams, Zus Coffee (formerly Strong Group Athletics), ranked 12th, holds the highest likelihood of securing the top pick at 40 percent, followed by Capital1 at 30 percent (ranked 11th), Galeries Tower at 20 percent (ranked 10th) and Farm Fresh at 10 percent (ranked 9th).
The lottery is scheduled for June 24 to be aired on 'The Starting Lineup' on RPTV and Pilipinas Live.
Following the lottery, the drafting order for the rest of the field, ranked first to eighth in the last conference, will be determined by reverse ranking for the succeeding rounds.
After the top four teams, the drafting order proceeds as follows: Nxled (5th), Akari (6th), Cignal (7th), PLDT (8th), Chery Tiggo (9th), Petro Gazz (10th), Choco Mucho (11th), and defending champion Creamline (12th).
Rookie Draft Combine
The PVL will host a mandatory two-day rookie draft combine from June 25 to 26 for all qualified draft applicants Gameville Ballpark in Sheridan, Mandaluyong which will also feature the league's free agents.
League officials and team representatives will oversee the combine, covering physical measures, medical tests, interviews, athletic tests, and scrimmages.
Key measurements to be determined in the combine include height, weight, and wingspan, among others. Physical tests will include vertical jumps, shuttle runs, and flexibility assessments, while skill tests will evaluate spiking, blocking, serving, receiving, setting, and digging.
The performances of draft applicants in the combine will serve as core metrics for teams in selecting talents from the draft pool.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the PVL Rookie Draft, players must be at least 21 years old by December 31, 2024.
No other criteria besides age will be considered for eligibility, meaning prior playing experience in college or any other academic qualification will not be required to enter the draft.
It's clarified that the draft will not exclusively cater to homegrown Filipino players, as the league is open to welcoming Fil-foreign talent with certain reservations.
A Fil-foreign draft applicant must meet the previously stated age requirement and must have obtained a Philippine passport by May 31, 2024—the deadline for draft applications.
Alternatively, Fil-foreign draft applicants may choose to submit a Philippine-issued birth certificate instead of a Philippine passport.
Terms and Conditions for Drafted and Undrafted Players
All successfully drafted players must receive 'qualifying offers' from their respective teams within 15 calendar days following the draft.
First-round picks are required to be offered a minimum three-year contract, while second-round picks and beyond must be offered a minimum one-year contract.
For players who remain undrafted, the minimum requirement, should a team decide to sign them after the draft, is a one-conference contract at the very least.
Important Dates and Reminders
Here are the crucial dates to remember for all eligible draft applicants in the two-month period leading up to the draft:
- June 15: Release of initial list of draft applicants
- June 24: PVL Rookie Draft Lottery
- June 25-26: PVL Rookie Draft Combine
- July 8: PVL Rookie Draft
"Drafts are the great equalizer in pro leagues. This season, we will hold our first-ever draft with guidelines influenced by some of the top leagues in the world," PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo said.
"We are hoping for a huge turnout for the inaugural class of the PVL draft. This is an exciting moment for our league as we take a significant step forward in elevating the level of competition and providing more opportunities for talented athletes.
"We look forward to seeing the new talent that will emerge and make their mark in the PVL," he added.
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