MANILA – The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) will hold its first-ever rookie draft today, Monday (08 July 2024) at Novotel Manila Araneta City in Cubao, Quezon City.
This marks a significant milestone for the league as it prepares for the Reinforced Conference, set to begin on July 16 at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
ZUS Coffee, previously known as Strong Group, holds the coveted first pick among 47 players vying for spots across 12 teams.
The Thunderbelles are reportedly eyeing middle blocker Thea Allison Gagate, a former La Salle star known for her powerful performance against Vietnam in the FIVB Challenger Cup quarterfinals.
“The first name we wanted is Thea,” said coach Jerry Yee during the PVL Draft Combine.
Capital1, with the second overall pick, is in search of a reliable wing spiker. Coach Roger Gorayeb emphasized the need for an impactful hitter to complement their existing roster.
“Our priority is to get a hitter. We need someone who can immediately contribute to the team,” Gorayeb stated.
Galeries Tower, picking third, has a broader strategy, targeting a middle player, an outside spiker, and a third setter. Farm Fresh, with the fourth pick, is considering Leila Cruz. “We’re grateful for the fourth pick but it’s a tough decision given the talent pool,” said team manager Kiara Cruz.
The draft order continues with Nxled selecting fifth, followed by Akari, Cignal, PLDT, Chery Tiggo, Petro Gazz, Choco Mucho, and Creamline. The drafting process will proceed through multiple rounds until all teams have completed their selections or opted to pass.
The Reinforced Conference introduces a new format, dividing the 12 teams into two pools based on their All-Filipino Conference rankings. Pool A includes Creamline, Chery Tiggo, Farm Fresh, Galeries Tower, Nxled, and PLDT. Pool B consists of reigning Reinforced champion Petro Gazz, Akari, Capital1, Cignal, Choco Mucho, and ZUS Coffee.
The preliminary phase features two stages: a single round-robin within each pool, followed by cross-pool matchups. The top three teams from each pool will face the bottom three from the other pool. Teams will then be ranked using the FIVB Classification System. The top eight teams advance to the knockout quarterfinals, with the winners moving on to the semifinals. The top two teams from the semifinals will compete for the championship, while the losers will vie for the bronze.
The draft and new conference format promise to bring fresh talent and exciting competition to the PVL, setting the stage for an action-packed season.
(el Amigo/mnm)
MANILA – The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is set to make history with its first-ever rookie draft on July 8, featuring a 47-player lineup brimming with talent from various universities and even international locations.
Leading the draft are key players from De La Salle University, including middle blockers Thea Gagate and Leila Cruz, setter Julia Coronel, and outside hitter Maicah Larroza.
Although 50 applicants initially met the June 12 deadline, the PVL announced on Saturday (15 June 2024) that the roster has been refined to 47 after thorough screening and deliberation.
Highlighted in this impressive pool are notable names such as opposite spiker Pierre Abellana from UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas, along with Adamson University’s outside hitters Lucille Almonte and Ishie Lalongisip. Other standout athletes include opposite spiker AA Adolfo, setters Nikka Yandoc and Angge Alcantara, libero Karen Verdeflor, and middle blocker Sharya Ancheta.
The draft also features University of the Philippines’ outside hitters Abi Goc and Jewel Encarnacion, and opposite spiker Stephanie Bustrillo. Representing the University of the East are opposite spiker Dara Nieva and liberos Jenina Zeta and Dea Villamor. Ateneo de Manila University’s libero Roma Mae Doromal, and US-based Filipinos Aleiah Torres from Brock University and Nathalie Ramacula from Red River College Polytechnic are also vying for spots.
Other contenders include Daisy Melendres and Bay Anne de Leon from Letran; Dodee Batindaan, Robbie Mae Matawaran, Lorraine Pecana, Donnalyn Paralejas, and Charmina Dino from Arellano; Catherine Almazan from Emilio Aguinaldo College; Camille Belaro from Lyceum; Maxinne Tayag and Lalaine Arizapa from San Beda; Jewelle Bermillo from San Sebastian; and Razel Aldea and Sandra Dayao from Perpetual Help.
The draft’s lineup further includes Lovely Zapf and Lian Macasiray from La Salle-Dasmariñas, Andrea Jardio from Lyceum-Alabang, Jamie Solina from Marinduque State, Danya Casino from Trinity, and Danivah Aying from the University of San Jose–Recoletos.
Rounding out the list are former La Salle training pool players Caroline Santos, Ysabela Bakabak, and Giliana Torres, along with former UST Tigress Mary Grace Vernaiz, former National University (NU) Lady Bulldog CJ Evangelista, and former UE Lady Warrior Remcel Santos.
A draft lottery, determining the order of picks for the 9th to 12th placers (Farm Fresh, Galeries Tower Capital1, and Zus Coffee, formerly Strong Group Athletics) from the All-Filipino Conference, will be broadcast live on “The Starting Lineup” on RPTV and Pilipinas Live on June 24. Following them in the draft sequence are Nxled (5th), Akari (6th), Cignal (7th), PLDT (8th), Chery Tiggo (9th), Petro Gazz (10th), Choco Mucho (11th), and All-Filipino champion Creamline (12th).
The rookies and free agents will participate in a Draft Combine on June 25 and 26 at Gameville Ballpark in Mandaluyong. This event will include interviews, physical measurements, medical evaluations, skills assessments, and scrimmages, providing a comprehensive assessment of each athlete’s potential.
(el Amigo/MNM)
MANILA — For the first time at the continental level, the Philippines has secured a podium finish in women’s volleyball.
The Alas team, featuring Premier Volleyball League and UAAP standouts, clinched the bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup for Women by dominating Australia with scores of 25-23, 25-15, and 25-7 at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum on Wednesday (29 May 2024).
“It feels surreal. I think it’s going to take a while for it to sink in because we went into this game not expecting anything. Now, we’re going home with a medal,” said veteran playmaker Jia de Guzman.
“It’s been years, decades since the last medal, so we are extremely thankful. We’re hopeful and looking forward to more preparations for upcoming tournaments. If we can perform like this now, we just hope to keep improving and moving up,” she added.
“I’m blessed to play with such talented girls from different generations and a very talented coaching staff. I’m thankful for the opportunity to lead this team,” de Guzman said.
Eya Laure, who was limited to just three points in the straight-set semifinal loss to Kazakhstan, made a significant comeback, leading the Philippines to their historic victory.
The Volleyroos narrowed an 11-18 deficit in the first set to 23-24, but Sisi Rondina’s back-row attack secured the set for Alas. From that point, the Nationals were unstoppable.
“I’m really happy and grateful. I have no words to express how happy I am, not just for myself but for the whole team. They deserve this,” said coach Jorge Souza de Brito.
“They fight every single day, since they were young, to make history. And now history has been made because they trusted themselves today. I’m happy because we won the medal here, in our home, in front of our people. It’s a joy to celebrate with everyone,” the Brazilian mentor added.
The Alas team capitalized on the outside-opposite tandem of Laure and Angel Canino, achieving a runaway 25-15 victory in the second set. Laure and Thea Gagate then led the team to a commanding 16-6 lead in the third set, which proved insurmountable for the Australians.
(el Amigo/MNM)
MANILA — The Premier Volleyball League is set to hold its inaugural Rookie Draft on July 6, marking a significant event aimed at fortifying team rosters with fresh talent and ensuring parity within the league.
The draft lottery, scheduled for June 24, aims to deter “tanking” strategies—intentionally losing games to secure higher draft picks—by not automatically granting the top pick to the lowest-performing club.
PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo stated, “Drafts serve as the great equalizer in professional leagues. This season, we will conduct our inaugural draft with guidelines influenced by some of the world’s top leagues.”
Starting from the upcoming conference, clubs will not be permitted to make direct hires.
This development follows another successful conference, wherein Creamline emerged victorious over sister team Choco Mucho, clinching its fourth consecutive All-Filipino Conference championship and eighth overall crown.
In the lottery, Strong Group Athletics, finishing last in its debut conference, holds a 40% chance of securing the first overall pick, followed by Capital1 (30%), Galeries Tower (20%), and Farm Fresh (10%).
Teams ranked eighth to first in the All-Filipino Conference will select fifth to twelfth, respectively, in descending order.
Subsequent rounds will adhere to the reverse order of the All-Filipino standings, with the team holding the poorest record picking first.
The draft process enables member teams to choose players who have not previously competed in the league, with selection order determined by a lottery for the first round and reverse ranking based on the preceding All-Filipino standings for subsequent rounds.
After Creamline and Choco Mucho, the teams are ranked as follows: PetroGazz, Chery Tiggo, PLDT, Cignal, Akari, Nxled, Farm Fresh, Galeries Tower, Capital1, and Strong Group Athletics.
A primary objective of the draft is to prevent bidding wars among teams for players, fostering a fairer acquisition process.
Eligibility for the draft mandates that applicants be at least 21 years old by December 31, 2024, with no requirement for collegiate playing experience or academic qualifications.
Filipino-foreign applicants must obtain a Philippine passport before the May 31 deadline for submission of draft eligibility requirements. Alternatively, Filipino-foreign applicants may submit a birth certificate issued in the Philippines.
All applicants must complete an online form at http://pvl.ph/draft. Additional requirements and documents must be sent to draft@pvl.ph.
The deadline for withdrawal is June 12.
(el Amigo/MNM)
MANILA — F2 Logistics, a renowned volleyball club, has officially announced the disbandment of its Premier Volleyball League (PVL) team.
The decision came as the Cargo Movers faced challenges with injuries, leading them to prioritize player health over competitive victories.
In a statement released on their social media accounts, the team expressed gratitude to the coaching staff, with special recognition for coach Ramil de Jesus, who continuously led the team.
The Cargo Movers concluded their 2023 PVL Second All-Filipino Conference with a 4-7 record, marking their final appearance in the league.
Acknowledging the support from the Premier Volleyball League and the Philippine Superliga, the team highlighted the instrumental role these leagues played in fostering volleyball growth in the Philippines.
Despite the disbandment, F2 Logistics remains dedicated to supporting Philippine volleyball, with a renewed focus on grassroots development.
The team affirmed its commitment to backing the De La Salle Lady Spikers and expanding support to the University of Perpetual Help.
However, the fate of F2 players remains uncertain, and it is not immediately clear where they will be headed following the team’s disbandment.
(ai/mnm)
Games on July 11
(Philsports Arena)
9:30 p.m. – PetroGazz vs Farm Fresh
12 noon – Cignal vs Foton
4 p.m. – Akari vs Chery Tiggo
6:30 p.m. – Choco Mucho vs F2 Logistics
Choco Mucho took sole possession of the top spot in Pool B, while PLDT spoiled Faith Nisperos’ debut by sweeping Akari in the Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre yesterday.
Sisi Rondina continued to shine as the Flying Titans secured their second consecutive victory with a dominant 25-19, 25-19, 25-14 triumph over Foton.
Led by Dell Palomata’s outstanding performance, the High Speed Hitters defeated the Chargers 25-15, 25-19, 25-22 in the Pool A match.
In her second game for Choco Mucho, Rondina delivered an impressive performance, contributing 19 points with 15 successful attacks and three blocks, while also recording six digs. Cherry Nunag and Des Cheng added 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Cait Viray chipped in with seven points for the Flying Titans, who have yet to drop a set in the early stages of the conference.
Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance after two matches.
“We are extremely happy with the result,” said Alinsunurin. “With our victory today, we are gradually learning how to win because this is what we really want to achieve. It’s really a step-by-step process. We need to win and improve in each game. We want to execute all our training plans for the match. It’s important that our success rate increases with what we’re doing.”
Palomata displayed efficiency, landing 10 out of 20 spikes and contributing three blocks to finish as the match’s top scorer with 14 points. Jovie Prado added 13 points and nine digs, while Mich Morente recorded three service aces for an 11-point effort for PLDT.
Nisperos registered five points in her first professional game, but the Chargers failed to take advantage of the absence of key players from the High Speed Hitters, namely Mika Reyes (shoulder) and Mean Mendrez (knee).
“I’m very happy that we started off well and won,” said PLDT coach Rald Ricafort. “But there are still areas we need to work on, and we will prepare for our upcoming games during this VNL week.”
Royse Tubino, making her debut for the High Speed Hitters, contributed eight points, while Jessey de Leon, filling in for Reyes, made the most of her opportunity with eight points as well.
Despite missing some of the college standouts they were targeting, Ricafort remains optimistic about PLDT’s competitiveness.
“Although we weren’t able to recruit UAAP players, it’s very important that we acquired Royse [Tubino] because she fills in the gaps we need,” said Ricafort.
Dindin Santiago-Manabat and Trisha Genesis led Akari with 10 and nine points, respectively.
The Tornadoes, who now hold a 0-2 record in their group, kept the second set close before the Flying Titans pulled away and never looked back in the third.
Shaya Adorador led Foton with 10 kills, while Jaila Atienza contributed four of her eight points through blocks.
(ai/mnm)
Games on Saturday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
1:30 p.m. – PLDT vs Akari
4 p.m. – Foton vs Choco Mucho
6:30 p.m. – F2 Logistics vs Cignal
MANILA — Defending champion Creamline demonstrated their prowess by overpowering Gerflor, securing a commanding 25-18, 25-11, 25-12 victory in Thursday’s Premier Volleyball League Invitational Conference at the Filoil EcoOil Centre,
The second and third sets showcased the fiery form of the Cool Smashers, leaving the Defenders in a reality check during their league debut.
With this win, Creamline improved to a 2-0 record in Pool A, following their earlier straight-set triumph over Chery Tiggo on the opening day.
After a relatively slow start, the team managed to recover and regain their momentum, thanks to the contributions of their players.
Coach Sherwin Meneses expressed satisfaction with the game, stating, “Siyempre, medyo nagsimula kaming mabagal pero nakabawi naman kami mula sa mabagal na simula. Talagang nag-contribure yung mga players kaya masaya kami sa laro na ito at nakuha namin ang panalo” (Of course, we started a bit slow, but we were able to recover from the sluggish start. The players really contributed, so we’re happy with this game and getting the win).
In another match, Choco Mucho made a triumphant return to indoor play as they dominated Farm Fresh, securing a convincing 25-14, 25-7, 25-16 victory in Pool B.
Tots Carlos delivered an impressive performance, finishing with 15 points, going 13-of-19 in spikes. Jema Galanza also contributed with 10 points, including two service aces, making her the other Cool Smasher to reach double digits. Ced Domingo stood out with three blocks, the highest in the match, contributing eight points. Jia de Guzman showcased her skills with three of her five points coming from the service area, along with 12 excellent sets for Creamline. Alyssa Valdez, who celebrated her birthday, took a supporting role as Bernadeth Pons, the Cool Smashers’ new addition to the conference, received more playing time and finished with four blocks.
Returning to indoor play after a hiatus since 2019, Sisi Rondina seamlessly resumed her form. The Compostela, Cebu native exhibited an impressive performance, tallying 14 points with 13-of-27 attacks and showcasing her versatility with five receptions, leading the Flying Titans to victory.
“Hindi po naging madali pero nagtiwala kami sa proseso. Nagtiwala kami sa isa’t isa sa tulong ni coach Dante (Alinsunurin) at sa mga coaches namin,” said Rondina, a two-time Southeast Asian Games beach volleyball bronze medalist.
Cait Viray, Rondina’s college teammate, was also solid for Choco Mucho with 13 points, while setter Deanna Wong had five service aces and two blocks for a eight-point effort.
“Good game for our team. Dinidiktahan yung laro namin sa service receive namin kaya tumaas ang porsiyento namin,” said Alinsunurin, as the Flying Titans recorded 40-of-91 spikes. “Every set talaga, nagdi-dictate ng tempo sa amin.”
Choco Mucho’s best moment was in the second set of the 73-minute contest, scoring the first 13 points and never looked back.
Trisha Tubu had a better effort in her second pro game as the former Adamson standout had seven points, as Gayle Pascual struggled all-match long.
Zam Nolasco and Kate Santiago each had four points for the Foxies, who dropped to 0-2 in their pool.
(ai/mtvn)