ONCE a second-overall draft pick herself, Aby Maraño welcomed the forthcoming Premier Volleyball League (PVL) draft with open arms.
In a bid to help lower-ranked clubs "get the better players that are coming into the league," the PVL will hold a mid-season draft islated right after the season-opening All-Filipino Conference which kicks off on February 20.
The incoming Chery Tiggo captain sees how a draft system can go a long way in the pioneering volleyball league's pursuit of parity.
READ: Chery Tiggo newcomer Aby Maraño thrusts into captaincy role
"Okay sa'kin yung (PVL) draft. First of all, para rin ma-manage 'yung balance sa mga teams (at) mabibigyan ng opportunity 'yung other teams na makakuha ng player na mas best na makakatulong para sa team nila," Maraño said.
"Okay 'yun para ibigay na sa (lower-ranked teams) 'yung opportunity na 'yun (to get better players). Hindi na 'yung katulad before na iho-hone ['yung player] tapos kukunin na lang [ng ibang team] and everything," she added.
Back in 2014, Maraño was drafted second overall in the now-defunct Philippine Superliga's (PSL) by the AirAsia Flying Spikers in the league's inaugural player draft. Her teammate Ara Galang emerged as the F2 Logistics' top pick in the final edition of the PSL draft in 2016.
Across the PSL's three-year draft cycle, among notable names who began their club volleyball careers as draftees were PVL champion Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Jem Ferrer, Jonah Sabete, and Korea-based Filipino import Iris Tolenada.
Roughly eight years later since Philippine volleyball last saw a player draft, Maraño believes it's due time for the sport to continue adapting to pro league standards and systems at the international level.
"This is a professional league already so we have to also apply the professional system and way kung paano ba sa mga international level," said Maraño.
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