NO Filipina was drafted in the 2024 Korean V-League (KOVO) Women's Asian Quota Draft on Wednesday in Jeju Island, South Korea.
Creamline's Tots Carlos, Petro Gazz' MJ Phillips and Chery Tiggo's Mylene Paat did not make the cut following a three-day tryout in Korea alongside over 30 aspirants across various Asian nations.
READ Tots Carlos to miss out on at least one Creamline semifinal game
Carlos and Paat participated in the tryouts, prompting their absence for Creamline and Chery Tiggo’s respective semis-opening defeats in the 2024 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference on Tuesday to Choco Mucho and Petro Gazz, respectively.
By virtue of being drafted by cellar-dwelling Gwangju AI Peppers last year, Phillips was exempted from this year’s tryouts.
The former PVL MVPs will leave the Korea tryouts with remarkable feats as the two aspirants with the highest recorded vertical jump — both posting 61 cm. Carlos was also the shortest non-libero aspirant in this year’s draft pool at 167.7 cm (5-foot-5).
As is the case with other pro sporting leagues, not being drafted isn’t the end of the road just yet as Korean teams still have the option of signing undrafted players.
Last year, Phillips was the only drafted Filipina but was subsequently joined by Fil-American setter Iris Tolenada in the Korean V-League after signing for three-time league champion GS Caltex Seoul KIXX three months after the draft.
Albeit undrafted this time, Phillips has been a welcome addition for the Angels following a 13-piece in a four-set victory over the Crossovers to take an early lead in the single-round robin semifinals.
Missing their vets, but raring to go
Albeit expected to return to their respective PVL clubs, neither Creamline nor Chery Tiggo disclosed whether Carlos and Paat will be back in time for their second semis matches on Thursday or by the semis finale on Sunday.
While Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez shared how Carlos’ presence has been missed following their five-set loss to Choco Mucho, the skipper vowed that the defending champions will be at a ‘hundred percent’ the rest of the way with their title defense in limbo.
“We miss Tots (Carlos) definitely, but we run in a system kasi. So kahit minsan may nawawala sa’min, mine-make sure ni Coach Sherwin (Meneses) na talagang gagalaw kami in a certain way du’n sa system namin. May it be makahabol siya (Tots Carlos) sa team (or she’ll) be part of one of the teams there in Korea, we're just really happy for her sa ganitong opportunity na meron siya,” said Valdez.
“Kung ano man 'yung mangyayari, ano man ang ibibigay sa aming sitwasyon pagdating sa Petro Gazz, we're gonna accept it and give our hundred percent and hopefully we give a good fight also sa Petro Gazz na makakalaban namin on Thursday. So Tots, fighting. Kung ano man 'yan, go,” she added.
Chery Tiggo head coach Kungfu Reyes underlined how although Paat herself is an irreplaceable figure in the team, her absence shouldn’t be a cause for panic within the team with a handful of attackers ready to step up to the plate.
“’Yung Mylene Paat, di namin pwedeng palitan yun, Mylene Paat yun eh. Pero ‘yung posisyon itself (wing spiker), ‘yun ang importante kung paano mag-step up at paano magpe-prepare ‘yung ibang players. Kami naka-ready na kami sa part ng coaches. All we need to do is execute every training, adjustment after adjustment,” said Reyes.
“Nakafocus kami kung sino mga tao namin dito, na piyesa. May mga tao naman na pwedeng gumalaw du’n sa pwesto, hindi lang talaga masyadong tumama ngayon.”
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