MANILA, Philippines – Three-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker Thea Gagate of powerhouse La Salle leads the inaugural Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft class this year.
Along with Gagate, La Salle team captain Julia Coronel and teammates Leila Cruz and Maicah Larroza also made themselves available for the draft set on July 6.
According to the official list of applicants released by the PVL, other top collegiate players joining the draft include Ateneo’s Roma Mae Doromal, Adamson’s Lucille Almonte, Karen Verdeflor, and Ishie Lalongisip; UP’s Steph Bustrillo and Jewel Encarnacion; and UST’s Pierre Abellana.
The draft pick order will be determined through a lottery on June 24, with Strong Group Athletics – which finished at the bottom of the 12-team field last conference – holding the highest odds at 40%.
Capital1 (30%), Galeries Tower (20%), and Farm Fresh (10%) also hold the next highest odds.
The succeeding selections will be based on the rankings of the last All-Filipino conference, with the lower-ranked teams picking first.
Champion Creamline and runner-up Choco Mucho will be the last two teams to pick every round.
The Rookie Draft Combine scheduled on June 25-26 will be mandatory for all applicants. It will include physical measures, medical tests, interviews, athletic tests, and scrimmages. – Rappler.com