Alyssa Valdez: Dream is not over for undrafted players

The 2024 PVL Rookie Draft picks during the inaugural ceremony on Monday.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Twenty-four players went undrafted in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft on Monday night at Novotel.

When the league was wrapping up its successful draft night, Creamline star and three-time MVP Alyssa Valdez approached the players, who weren’t fortunate enough to be selected by the 12 PVL teams, hugging and giving them inspiring words to keep their dreams going.

“We all want them to be part of the community. They’re still part of the community, free agent sila ngayon. I told them this is just a stepping stone for them para abutin yung mga dreams nila to be a part of any teams in the PVL,” Valdez told reporters.

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Alyssa Valdez on the #PVLDraft2024 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/VAfXtCmT6k

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 9, 2024

“It’s just the beginning. This is the first draft, so marami pa silang opportunities na mapupuntahan at mag-o-open sa kanila. Kapit lang, tiyaga lang, and work harder and smarter.”

Left undrafted were former BaliPure libero Jewelle Bermillo, University of the Philippines’ Abi Goc, University of the East players Dara Nieva and Dea Villamor, Filipino-Canadian Nathalie Ramacula, Jamie Solina from Marinduque, Caroline Santos, Remcel Santos, Lalaine Evangelista, Charmina Diño, BayAnne De Leon, Catherine Almazan, Lalaine Arizapa, Camille Belaro, Maxinne Tayag, Daisy Melendres, Sandra Dayao, Robbie Mae Matawaran, Mary Grace Vernaiz, Lovely Zapf, Lian Macasiray, Andrea Jardio, Danya Casiño, and Ysabela Bakabak.

PVL president Ricky Palou and Commissioner Sherwin Malonzo also gave encouraging words to the undrafted players, whose journey doesn’t end on Draft Night as they can still make a team as free agents.

“We’re just sorry for those who were not drafted. After the draft, I went to talk to the players who were not drafted and I told them that this is not the end. Pwede pa naman kayong maglaro sa PVL, ngayon you are free to tryout for any team since free agent kayo,” Palou said. “I told them also na those who got drafted, hindi pa naman sila sigurado na papasok sila sa team that drafted them. So [the undrafted players] are free agents, they can try out for any team so sana they don’t lose hope.”

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Creamline only drafted Filipino-Canadian libero Aleiah Torres and passed up in the second round. The inaugural draft went as far as the fourth round with a total of 23 aspirants selected bannered by number one overall pick Thea Gagate. Cebuano and University of San Jose-Recolletos product Danivah Aying was the last pick in the draft by Galeries and was the lone non-UAAP and NCAA player of the class.

Valdez remained pleased with the turnout of the draft, which will change the landscape of Philippine volleyball for the upcoming years.

“Who would’ve thought na aabot tayo sa ganitong point in our lives also. Being part of the volleyball community, akala natin, maglalaro lang tayo until college, but now, we’re really legit na pro with all this drafting,” said the Creamline captain. “We’re just very, very happy for the league itself, we’re happy for the players, we’re happy for all the team owners, kasi siyempre lahat naman tayo magbe-benefit din dito. Ako, napapa-proud ako kasi napaka-successful ng first-ever draft ngayong taon, kaya naman excited na kami sa mga magpapa-draft ulit next year.”