Lams Lamina’s hands were as cold as ice as she patiently waited for the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft proceedings to begin.

Minutes before, she was smiling while watching her former National University (NU) teammate, Bella Belen, on the screen — put up inside the holding area for the year’s batch of draft aspirants — walk through the aisle of the massive hall inside the Novotel Manila and on to the stage for her final walk as top overall rookie pick the year prior.

Then came the moment of truth for the 37 hopefuls physically present during the third edition of the annual selection rites.

Lamina, all dolled up, wearing a sleeveless, scoop-neckline gold-sequined bodice and a long, flowing black column skirt with a plush white faux-fur stole draped over her shoulders for a classic and glamorous look, nervously held her breath.

PVL control committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo’s voice echoed through the suddenly quiet venue filled with an air of anticipation.

Galeries Tower, which owned the rights for the first selection through luck in the Draft Lottery days before, made its decision to pick Lamina as the No. 1 overall pick to help the team in its rebuilding process.

Lamina with a wide smile — masking the feeling of both excitement and uncertainty of a new chapter in her volleyball career — was warmly welcomed by the Highrisers led by setter Julia Coronel on stage.  

For this edition, a playmaker has been selected as top pick of the draft class.     

“Very nervous, of course,” Lamina said.

“It’s mixed emotions, actually. I’m just a normal person so I feel those kinds of things. I’m an athlete but at the same time I’m a normal person.”

Lamina’s professional journey has begun.

Injecting championship mentality

Taken as the top pick by Galeries Tower in the league’s Rookie Draft that saw 42 hopefuls trimmed to just 38 after the sudden withdrawal of four aspirants including another NU product Alyssa Solomon, Lamina represents both a fresh start for a struggling franchise and a testament to the ever-growing depth of Philippine volleyball talent.

For the young three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion, hearing her name called first was not just a personal milestone, but a validation of the relentless grind that defined her stellar collegiate career.

“For me, it’s fulfilling to be chosen by Team Galeries (as the top overall pick). It shows their trust in me as their pick. Very happy and very grateful,” Lamina said, flashing the signature smile that has endeared her to thousands of volleyball fans across the country.

Yet, behind the gratitude lies the heart of a fierce competitor who understands that the glamorous lights of draft night are fleeting.

The real work begins on the taraflex floor just weeks after the once-in-a-lifetime draft experience, where the Highrisers are desperately searching for a catalyst to turn their fortunes around.