THIRD-round draft pick Riza Nogales’ meteoric rise to PVL stardom with unbeaten league leader ZUS Coffee has been nothing short of phenomenal.
The 22-year-old University of the East standout threw her name into the draft mix despite dealing with a partial ACL tear on her right knee.
But the Thunderbelles believed, drafting her 25th overall, and she even became the first rookie in the 2025 draft class to win an individual award as the PVL Invitational best middle blocker.
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To this day, Nogales still can’t believe how her pro career has unfolded, having once been a dreamer with little expectations for herself back on draft night.
“Nu’ng time talaga ng draft, sobrang kaba. Binigay ko na lang kay Lord ‘yung moment na ‘yun,” Nogales recalled to SPIN.ph.
“Sobrang thankful lang talaga ako sa ZUS kasi pinagkatiwalaan nila ako, and tinulungan nila akong maka-recover agad para ngayon, nakakapaglaro na.”
No-namer to Alas contender
So far, her awe-inspiring breakout tale in the Reinforced Conference has not gone unnoticed.
ZUS Coffee’s second-leading middle blocker, with 0.36 blocks per set, keyed a perfect and franchise-best 5–0 start to the first group stage of the import-laden conference.
Nogales earned plaudits from volleyball fans for her resilience and gutsy play after years of being almost unnoticed with UE in the UAAP.
Months ago, she took a leap of faith by entering the draft as an injured six-foot middle blocker.
Now an emerging crowd favorite, Nogales finds herself on cloud nine as her name enters conversations involving the league’s best middles and even as a potential future Alas Pilipinas prospect.
“Minsan naiiyak na lang ako kasi ‘yung mga [encouraging] comments nila, hindi ko in-expect na may mga taong nagmamahal din pala sa'kin,” Nogales said.
“Hindi ko naman dina-down sarili ko, pero sabi ko, hindi naman ako masyadong kilala, kaya parang nagulat din ako, lalo na nu’ng draft night na grabe yung mga tao na sumusuporta, nagmamahal pala sa'kin.
“Thankful ako sa mga taong ‘yun. I love you guys.”
And with the opportunity presenting itself, will Nogales seize a possible national team call-up?
“Walang naman po sigurong masama kung iga-grab siguro ‘yung opportunity, pero ngayon, mas focus lang po talaga muna ako sa ZUS,” she said.
“Marami pang tatrabahuin, pero siguro, if in the near future, why not?”
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