THE Premier Volleyball League (PVL) will hold its first-ever Rookie Draft on July 8.
READ: Who are diamonds in the rough in first-ever PVL Rookie Draft?
From 47 aspirants from all over the country and overseas, a handful have stood out. As expected, many are household names while others made their reputation as outstanding college players.
The two-day PVL Rookie Draft Combine separated the best from the rest. Here are the possible top picks in today's rookie draft.
THEA GAGATE (La Salle)
Thea Gagate is the favorite to be picked first by the newly-rebranded ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles whose coaching staff plans to build around her and hope that with her presence, the team will enable them to make a strong finish.
One of the finest products of the dynastic National University-Narazeth School, Gagate won back-to-back UAAP juniors’ titles in Season 78 and 79 where she also won Rookie of the Year and 1st Best Middle Blocker honors, respectively.
She never missed a beat when she moved to La Salle. In a memorable three-season run as a Lady Spiker, she won the top middle blocker plum every single year she played and capped it with a championship-winning Season 85 run.
After her final UAAP playing year, the 6-foot-2 Taft tower declared for the PVL Rookie Draft. She also saw action for Alas Pilipinas, the the national volleyball team, which took the bronze in the 2024 AVC Challenge Cup for Women.
Draft combine skill test results:
- 1-minute push-up: 20 repetitions
- Standing vertical jump: 58.85 cm
- Vertical jump with approach: 317 cm
- Standing broad jump: 218 cm
- Modified agility T-test: 7.57 seconds
- 60-meter shuttle run: 16.36 seconds
LEILA CRUZ (La Salle)
Leila Cruz will be seeking redemption as she joins the draft as one of the possible top picks. She missed two seasons, 85 and 86, with La Salle following an ACL tear on her right knee.
But she is now fully recovered aiming for a fresh start and hopes to capitalize on a new opportunity to bring new life to her volleyball career.
At six feet, Cruz will surely be on the radar of many teams looking for height, agility and skill which the one-time La Salle star have in abundance.
Draft combine skill test results:
- 1-minute push-up: 22 repetitions
- Standing vertical jump: 49.40 cm
- Vertical jump with approach: 304 cm
- Standing broad jump: 189 cm
- Modified agility T-test: 7.77 seconds
- 60-meter shuttle run: 16.80 seconds
JULIA CORONEL (La Salle)
Julia Coronel is eager to blaze her own trail after a campaign as La Salle’s lead playmaker and two initial stints with Alas Pilipinas.
The 5-foot-7 setter was part of the Season 82 team that only had two full games prior to the pandemic. Come Seasons 84 and 85, Coronel played back-up to now Choco Mucho ace setter Mars Alba.
She became lead setter and captain, but Coronel’s eventual farewell tour with the Lady Spikers proved to be a tough one as it was marred by criticism and an inconsistent string of results.
She somehow managed to play well with the national team and her experience will likely put her among the early picks in the draft. She also got significant tutorship from eight-time PVL best setter Jia de Guzman.
Draft combine skill test results:
- 1-minute push-up: 31 repetitions
- Standing vertical jump: 70.56 cm
- Vertical jump with approach: 316 cm
- Standing broad jump: 248 cm
- Modified agility T-test: 6.61 seconds
- 60-meter shuttle run: 14.77 seconds
LUCILLE ALMONTE (Adamson)
At the core of Adamson’s six-player contingent in the PVL Draft is Lady Falcons team captain Lucille Almonte.
Five full years with the San Marcelino side equipped her for what could be a breakthrough stint in the pros — one that actually began with a PVL title during the league’s third and last edition of the Collegiate Conference in 2019.
The 5-foot-7 outside hitter, played sparingly in her final year. She was also a two-way player being occasionally fielded as a libero when now-Galeries Tower head coach Lerma Giron was still Adamson’s head coach.
Following Adamson’s drop from the podium in Season 85 to second-to-last in Season 86, Almonte aims to hit a swift reset on her career in a possible second PVL stint — but this time, as a pro.
Draft combine skill test results:
- 1-minute push-up: 30 repetitions
- Standing vertical jump: 58.80 cm
- Vertical jump with approach: 290 cm
- Standing broad jump: 192 cm
- Modified agility T-test: 6.79 seconds
- 60-meter shuttle run: 15.92 seconds
STEPH BUSTRILLO (UP)
A prolific scoring threat, Steph Bustrillo is ready to spread her wings in the pros after leading the frontline for the University of the Philippines.
The 5-foot-8 opposite hitter shone brightest for the Fighting Maroons as the team’s season-best scorer under concurrent Petro Gazz director of volleyball operations Oliver Almadro.
Following her five-win Season 84 rookie campaign, UP was held to just two total wins in her last two seasons combined alongside fellow State U draft hopefuls Jewel Encarnacion and Abi Goc.
Just as it is for most of the draft aspirants, new beginnings will be at the core of her PVL pursuit as a well-rounded attacking option now fit for the pros.
Draft combine skill test results:
- 1-minute push-up: 31 repetitions
- Standing vertical jump: 61.87 cm
- Vertical jump with approach: 297 cm
- Standing broad jump: 224 cm
- Modified agility T-test: 6.83 seconds
- 60-meter shuttle run: 15.04 seconds
KAREN VERDEFLOR (Adamson)
San Marcelino’s floor general is a top talent to watch out for — more so after an impressive final act with Adamson in UAAP Season 86.
Even after a seventh-place finish, Karen Verdeflor came in second in the best libero race behind University of Sto. Tomas captain Detdet Pepito.
Her noteworthy defensive performances for the Lady Falcons earned her player of the game nods during the course of her final UAAP campaign.
With PVL teams eyeing to cover all fronts including the defensive end of things, Verdeflor’s promise and potential could shine in the league.
Draft combine skill test results:
- 1-minute push-up: 40 repetitions
- Standing vertical jump: 58.72 cm
- Vertical jump with approach: 277 cm
- Standing broad jump: 218 cm
- Modified agility T-test: 6.25 seconds
- 60-meter shuttle run: 14.58 seconds
Bonus pick:
ROMA DOROMAL (Ateneo)
Five years playing for Ateneo led Roma Doromal to what could be a huge turning point in her career.
With older sister RJ already in the PVL with Galeries Tower, Roma looks to follow suit as she carries her leadership pedigree and commanding defensive presence to the pros.
Doromal’s rookie year with the Blue Eagles in Season 82 saw her win bronze in the UAAP beach volleyball tournament before the pandemic cut the indoor competition short.
She was part of three rebuilding years for Ateneo, capped by a near-Final Four entry in Season 86 where she captained the Katipunan side to a top five finish.
Draft combine skill test results:
- 1-minute push-up: 43 repetitions
- Standing vertical jump: 58.78 cm
- Vertical jump with approach: 288 cm
- Standing broad jump: 210 cm
- Modified agility T-test: 6.63 seconds
- 60-meter shuttle run: 14.99 seconds
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