A total of 47 aspirants from across the country and overseas are set to test their luck in the first-ever Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft on July 6.
READ: Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel lead first batch of PVL draft applicants
The inaugural rookie selection pool features up-and-coming stars and veteran talent from the UAAP, NCAA, local colleges, and two Canadian schools.
Prior to the official release of the draft list, a few big names in college volleyball were tipped to turn pro and possibly forego their last years of eligibility.
Although the 47-strong list doesn't fall short of promise and potential, here's just some of the stars (either graduating or not) who decided to skip the draft - at least for now - and explore other options for next year.
BELLA BELEN (NU)
No less than the UAAP's two-time MVP Bella Belen emerged as a notable absentee from the PVL's draft list.
Shortly after National University captured its second UAAP women's volleyball title in the last three seasons, Belen - albeit noncommittal at the time - shared how she refused to discard the prospect of one more season with the Lady Bulldogs amid swirling talks on turning pro.
“Pwede po, gusto ko rin naman po. Gusto rin naman, kasi sino ba naman pong hindi gugustuhing makasama yung talagang palaban na team, talagang hard work ng NU? Kaya sobrang saya ko na sila yung nakasama ko throughout my career,” she said.
From there, Belen opted to turn down the national team's invite for the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women before her eventual addition to a now-expanded 19-player Alas Pilipinas pool.
It remains unclear, however, whether Belen's decision to skip the PVL Draft entails another season with NU.
ALYSSA SOLOMON (NU)
Like Belen, UAAP Season 86 Finals MVP and two-time best opposite hitter Alyssa Solomon was among the early favorites to become a first-rounder.
One could surmise based on their post-championship responses that neither of the two NU ace spikers entertained the thought of turning pro just yet.
And for Solomon, in particular, the PVL was far from her mind after winning the UAAP title.
“Wala pa ako sa ganyang (pagpaplano ng future) kasi ang focus ko lang talaga muna ngayon is UAAP. Nandun pa lang talaga. Close pa lang ‘yung mind ko sa UAAP. Wala pa po sa PVL,” she said.
Following their decision to skip the PVL Draft this year, Solomon and Belen have yet to confirm their return to NU for Season 87.
ANGEL CANINO (La Salle)
Now with two seasons and a breakout national team stint to her name, there's more than a few eyes keen to see where the former UAAP women's volleyball rookie MVP would've taken her talents to next.
As it stands, however, it looks like a third UAAP season stands as Angel Canino's most viable option for the coming year.
Canino reflected on an injury-laden Season 86 which saw La Salle bow out of the Final Four, one she claimed to be added motivation in what will be a redemption-driven Season 87 campaign.
"Yung loss na ‘yun (to UST in the Final Four). Itong season na ‘to. Motivation ito," she said.
“Siyempre nakakalungkot din po (ang) nangyari, but hindi kami dito titigil. It serves as a motivation for all of us,” she added.
DETDET PEPITO (UST)
Come Season 87, best libero Detdet Pepito will be the only member from finalist University of Sto. Tomas already in her fourth year.
The Tigresses' captain led a historic campaign by the España side, from an unprecedented 8-0 start to a trip to the Finals before just falling short against Belen, Solomon, and the rest of the Lady Bulldogs.
And for Pepito, rewriting their silver-laden fate next year is of the utmost priority.
“Kulang pa, pero nandun na kami. Sabi nga nila coach [Kungfu Reyes], next time, ‘wag na kaming papayag na ganito 'yung maramdaman ulit namin," she said.
"Pumasok kami nang buo, natapos rin kahit papaano nang buo. (At) kalahati man 'yung height, pero grabe 'yung puso."
LYANN DE GUZMAN (Ateneo)
When Ateneo bowed out of Season 86 in fifth place, Blue Eagles seniors Lyann de Guzman and libero-captain Roma Doromal were asked what future lay ahead of them.
While Doromal confirmed her departure and is now among the 47 aspirants in the PVL Draft, de Guzman was still in the process of deciding whether she'll be turning pro or staying put with the rebuilding Katipunan side.
“Actually, I'm still deciding pa. But let's see," the Ateneo spiker said.
Season 86 saw her hit 15.3 markers a game to lead the Blue Eagles in scoring. Should one more year with Ateneo be her eventual path moving forward, she'll be at the forefront of the storied school's bid to re-enter the Final Four after a two-season absence.
CHENIE TAGAOD (FEU)
A dream Season 86 run for Chenie Tagaod and Far Eastern University fell one win shy of a breakthrough Finals appearance.
As one of the Lady Tamaraws' seniors, such a groundbreaking campaign could've been Tagaod's last with the Morayta side.
But from the looks of it, another season remains in the cards for the ace spiker, moreso with the intent of keeping FEU's momentum and massive two-year turnaround going.
"Isipin niyo, 'yung Season 84 namin, isang panalo tapos ngayon, (fourth place) kaya makikita naman kung gaano nag-improve 'yung team. Hopefully by next year, hindi man ngayon, dadating at dadating tayo sa oras na 'yun," she said.
NIÑA YTANG (UP)
Two-time UAAP second-best middle blocker Niña Ytang was also expected to follow her Fighting Maroon ates Steph Bustrillo, Jewel Encarnacion, and Abi Goc to the PVL Draft.
While the veteran University of the Philippines trio did end up in the 47-player draft list, Ytang didn't.
Entering Year 2 of the rebuild under the watchful eyes of head coach and program head Oliver Almadro, State U is eager to turn its cellar-dwelling fortunes around, as its star-studded haul of high school aces are now wearing maroon and green.
Barring any change of plans, Ytang will be UP's most experienced player and prospective veteran captain come Season 87.
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