PVL squads drool over Belen

The Bella Belen sweepstakes continues to heat up with the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft just around the corner.

A source privy to the draft application told Daily Tribune that four of the five draft-eligible National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs, including the three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Most Valuable Player Belen, are expected to file their applications before the submission deadline on Friday.

Although Belen initially said she’s still weighing her options after leading NU to back-to-back women’s volleyball championships at the expense of De La Salle University last week, the winger is reportedly leaning toward joining the Draft slated on 8 June.

If Belen decides to enter the Draft, Nxled, Capital1, Farm Fresh and Galeries Tower will be scrambling to select the well-rounded hitter.

The Chameleons, however, will have the biggest probability of winning the Draft Lottery on 26 May.

Following a dismal season, Nxled has a 40 percent chance of getting the top pick followed by the Solar Spikers (30 percent) while the Foxies and Highrisers will have a tiebreaker to determine who will receive the 20 and 10 percent probability to select first.

Aside from Belen, who is projected to become the top overall pick in the second staging of the Draft, other graduating NU stars up for grabs for the 12 PVL clubs are Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan.

Towering opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon, on the other hand, has expressed interest in playing abroad following a spoiled attempt to join the Korean V-League Asian Quota Draft due to the UAAP rule prohibiting active varsity players from joining pro leagues while the season is ongoing.

Setter Lams Lamina is also eligible for the Draft despite still having a year of eligibility with NU.

A source told Daily Tribune that Lamina might have a change of mind from her initial pronouncement that she’s looking at staying for one last dance with the Lady Bulldogs.

A two-day Draft Combine is set on 30 to 31 May while the final list of eligible draftees will be revealed on 4 June, four days before the Draft proper.