GOLDEN GIRLS: NU’s ace spikers loom as PVL’s top draft picks

With the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft set for 7 June, excitement continues to build around what could be one of the deepest talent pools in league history — headlined by the possible entry of National University’s (NU) golden generation.

Though no official applications have been confirmed, buzz is swirling around NU standouts Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan — all of whom are expected to be top targets for teams seeking instant impact and long-term star power.

The draft lottery will take place on 26 May, where Nxled holds the highest odds with 40 percent of landing the No. 1 overall pick by virtue of their combined finishes in the 2024 Reinforced Conference and the recently concluded 2024-2025 All-Filipino Conference.

Capital1 follows with 30 percent odds, while Farm Fresh and Galeries Tower sit at 20 and 10 percent, respectively.

Prospects who pass the initial screening must participate in the PVL Draft Combine, slated for 30 May to 1 June, where they will undergo physical measurements, medical evaluations, interviews, athletic tests, and scrimmages before league coaches and officials.

At the heart of the pre-draft speculation is NU’s “Fab Four” — a group that not only delivered titles to the Lady Bulldogs but also raised the bar for collegiate volleyball in the country.

Bella Belen remains the crown jewel of the batch. The two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the only athlete in league history to win both MVP and Rookie of the Year in the same season — before Angel Canino replicated the same achievement the following year.

Belen boasts a winning pedigree, having led NU to two championships.

Her MVP run in UAAP Season 86 was backed by strong numbers with 205 points (seventh in scoring), a 36.53 percent spiking efficiency (sixth), and a 48.3 percent receiving rate (second). She added another feather to her cap with an MVP title and a 1st Best Outside Spiker award in the 2024 Shakey’s Super League.

Alyssa Solomon, NU’s offensive lynchpin, is equally formidable. The six-foot spiker earned Best Opposite Spiker honors in Season 86 and was the league’s most efficient attacker with a 41.61 percent success rate.

She also earned the Finals MVP award after an outstanding performance, leading NU to a sweep of the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Solomon made her presence felt in the Shakey’s Super League with back-to-back MVP titles and was recently named to the 2025 KOVO Asian Quota Draft pool, from which she later withdrew due to a conflict.

Further validating their elite status, both Solomon and Belen were included in the wish list of 33 players invited to the Alas Pilipinas tryouts for the women’s national team — a nod to their readiness for the international stage.

Anchoring the middle for NU is Sheena Toring, a seasoned veteran who has been a rock-solid presence at the net since the Bulldogs’ title-winning campaign in Season 84.

Her shot-blocking and quick attacks remain key assets, earning her Best Middle Blocker award.

Then there’s Erin Pangilinan, the youngest of the group but no less impactful.

She stepped into a starting role with composure beyond her years, making timely blocks and swift hits in NU’s title campaign in the SSL.

While the official draft pool has yet to be revealed, PVL teams are no doubt keeping close tabs on NU’s prized quartet.