Farm Fresh’s fourth overall pick Maica Larroza during the 2024 PVL Rookie Draft.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — In the two-day draft combine two weeks ago, Maicah Larroza’s motivation was to prove that she could also be one of the top prospects in the PVL Rookie Draft just like her La Salle teammates Thea Gagate, Leila Cruz, and Julia Coronel.
Larroza turned out to have made a good account of herself at the combine, bolstering her stock to land at Farm Fresh as the fourth overall pick in the draft on Monday night.
“Nao-overwhelm ako ngayon and I did not expect to be picked by Farm Fresh. But of course, I am very excited and I am looking forward to working with my future coaches and teammates,” said Larroza on Monday.
Gagate was the top overall pick by ZUS Coffee as expected, while Cruz and Coronel were selected by Capital1 and Galeries Tower, respectively.
READ: Maicah Larroza has added motivation heading into PVL Draft
Newest Farm Fresh Foxy Maicah Larroza after La Salle went No.1-4 picks. #PVLDraft2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/Be53hwoHpD
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 8, 2024
Larroza, who is set to join her former UAAP rivals Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, Rizza Cruz, Alyssa Bertolano, and Louie Romero, was happy to bear the fruit of their hard work in La Salle under coach Ramil De Jesus, owing her pro career to her college coaches and teammates.
“I think this is a product of our sacrifices and hard work. Kasi iba yung pinagdaanan namin and yung journey namin sa La Salle. Ni-look forward din namin na meron kaming dream na ma-achieve dito sa PVL,” she said.
“Coach Ramil was an instrument sa pag-achieve ko sa team Naging coach ko siya since I started playing volleyball. So I think magiging malaking inspiration siya sa paglalaro ko sa pros.”
READ: With Angel Canino out, Maicah Larroza grabs chance to step up
Larroza, who offers her versatility as a spiker and libero, is also elated to reunite with former La Salle star Jolina Dela Cruz once the latter completes her recovery from an ACL injury.
“I’m very excited to play with Ate Jolina kasi nga siya yung naging college idol ko like before pa ako mag-enter sa La Salle, idol na idol ko siya nung rookie year niya,” said Larroza.
From coach Ramil, Larroza embraces a new system under Japanese coach Shota Sato as Farm Fresh looks to improve from a 3-8 record in the All-Filipino Conference.
“With a Japanese coach and Farm Fresh is a young and emerging team, I am very excited na ishare yung skills ko sakanila and I’m also excited na maglearn ng mga bago sa Japanese coach and sa system ng Farm Fresh,” Larroza said.