Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel lead first PVL rookie draft aspirants

FILE – Alas Pilipinas stars and La Salle standouts Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel (left and second to left) join the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas players Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel were among the 47 aspirants — mostly composed of UAAP and NCAA student-athletes — joining the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft on July 8.

The La Salle pair, who were part of the Philippines’ historic bronze medal in the AVC Challenge Cup, will be part of the league’s historic Rookie Draft with their fellow Lady Spikers Maicah Larroza and Leila Cruz.

The PVL trimmed the total number of applicants from 50 to 47 after the June 12 deadline.

LIST: Applicants for the first ever PVL Rookie Draft

Gagate is a three-time 1st Best Middle Blocker in the UAAP and won the Season 85 title last year before settling for a bronze this season. Cruz, who suffered an ACL injury in 2023, has thrown her name to the draft after sitting out in Season 86 and is also listed as a middle blocker from playing as an opposite spiker.

Ateneo libero Roma Mae Doromal is also part of the historic draft with Pierre Abellana of the University of Santo Tomas, the runner-up of the UAAP as the 47 aspirants will have a two-day Draft Combine from June 25-26 at Gameville Ballpark in Sheridan, Mandaluyong.

READ: How the rise of PVL, PH volleyball has put the sport on a pedestal

Adamson has seven aspirants in outside spikers Lucille Almonte and Ishie Lalongisip, opposite spiker AA Adolfo, setters Nikka Yandoc and Angge Alcantara, libero Karen Verdeflor, and middle blocker Sharya Ancheta. University of the Philippines has three players in Abi Goc (outside hitter), Jewel Encarnacion (outside hitter), and Stephanie Bustrillo (opposite spiker), while University of the East has three aspirants Dara Nieva (opposite spiker) and liberos Jenina Zeta and Dea Villamor.

NU stars stay put

FILE–National University’s Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen during the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, who drew huge interest after leading National University to its second UAAP title in three years and winning the Season and Finals MVP, respectively, didn’t apply for the PVL draft. Inquirer sources bared that they decided to stay for another title defense.

Training pool players from NU, CJ Evangelista, La Salle’s Caroline Santos, Ysabela Bakabak, and Giliana Torres, former UST Tigress Mary Grace Vernaiz, and former UE Lady Warrior Remcel Santos also entered the draft.

The draft will also feature Filipino-Foreign players with Aleiah Torres of Brock University and Nathalie Ramacula of Red River College Polytechnic as well as other players nationwide, Lovely Zapf and Lian Macasiray from DLSU-Dasmarinas, Andrea Jardio of Lyceum-Alabang, Jamie Solina from Marinduque State, Danya Casino of Trinity, and Danivah Aying from USJ-R.

READ: UAAP: Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon take their time to enjoy NU title

NCAA players are also joining with Letran’s Daisy Melendres and Bay Anne de Leon; Arellano’s Dodee Batindaan, Robbie Mae Matawaran, Lorraine Pecana, Donnalyn Paralejas, and Charmina Dino; EAC’s Catherine Almanzan; Lyceum’s Camille Belaro; San Beda’s Maxinne Tayag and Lalaine Arizapa; San Sebastian’s Jewelle Bermillo; and Perpetual Help’s Razel Aldea and Sandra Dayao.

The live draft lottery determining the order of the first four picks between Zus Coffee, Farm Fresh, Capital1, and Galeries Tower will be held on the June 24 episode of The Starting Lineup, which airs on RPTV and Pilipinas Live.