Take your pick: PVL Rookie Draft overflows with talent, potential

It’s going to be a star-studded affair as the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) holds the second edition of its Rookie Draft this Sunday at the Novotel Hotel in Araneta Center.

Despite the threat of prized setter Alohi Robbins-Hardy to sit out should team outside Farm Fresh draft her, a bumper crop of talents will still be available in the selection process of the country’s most prestigious women’s volleyball league.

PVL control committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo said bigger and more athletic players have already signed up to be part of the 60-player draft pool.

Malonzo said 25 of the rookie prospects came from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), 15 from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, seven foreign-based players, and the rest coming from all over the country such as Tarlac and Baguio.

Leading the charge is three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Bella Belen and her National University teammates Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan as well as middle blocker AC Miner of Ateneo de Manila University, Filipino-American setter Tia Andaya, and spiker Chenie Tagaod and middle blocker Clarisse Loresco of Far Eastern University.

“The players are bigger and stronger so teams will have a deep pool to choose from,” Malonzo said during the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday at the conference hall of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“I think, especially the top four picks, they’ll be able to beef up their lineups with these new, really good players.”

Robins-Hardy, the 29-year-old Fil-Am setter from Hawaii, is among the projected higher picks in the draft, although on Monday she made an official statement about not playing for other teams that will draft her except for Farm Fresh.

PVL president Ricky Palou said that obviously doesn’t sit well with the league.

“We will not allow that. She cannot choose the team she wants to play for. She has to go through the draft,” stressed Palou, who was with Malonzo in the same forum presented by San Miguel Corporation. Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and ArenaPlus, the country’s 24/7 sports app.

Palou added Robin-Hardy will certainly be penalized by the PVL if she refuses to play for the team which earned her playing rights.

Farm Fresh is selecting at No. 3 overall in the first round behind Capital 1 Solar and Galeries Tower, while at No. 4 is Nxled. All four teams went through the lottery to determine their respective order of picks.

Selecting at No. 5 is Zus Coffee followed by Cignal, Choco Mucho, Cherry Tiggo, PLDT, Akari, Petro Gazz and Creamline.

Last week, the PVL conducted the required two-day Draft Combine at the Paco Arena that allowed teams to have a glimpse of the rookie players who will be available for the draft.

“This draft will be really interesting since it will improve the skill levels and competitiveness of all the teams,” Palou said.

“I’m sure the lower-ranking teams in the past will now be able to beef up their lineup with these new players, and they’ll be able to compete well against the other top teams.”

After the draft, the league will be holding the PVL On Tour to be held outside of Manila, and then take a break by September to give way to the country’s hosting and participation in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship.

After the world meet, the PVL resumes with its Reinforced Conference, the third and last for the season.