Bumper crop of rookies leveling PVL playing field

ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles’ Thea Gagate (No. 3) —MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The PVL’s landmark move to implement the first-ever Rookie Draft last year was expected to help level the playing field and put to a stop to direct hiring that benefitted only the monied teams.

And for the first time since last July, when Thea Gagate became the first No. 1 pick ever, all rookies selected have joined their respective teams as the league is slowly moving towards achieving the balance of power in the field.

SCHEDULE: PVL All-Filipino Conference 2024-2025

Snagged by ZUS Coffee, the middle blocker Gagate actually missed two import-laden conferences because of national team duties before the La Salle product finally joined the Thunderbelles in the on-going All-Filipino to help end a 20-game losing streak.

“Thea will be Thea. It’s different now that she’s there: for blocking and offense you already have an advantage,” ZUS coach Jerry Yee said. “It’s becoming easier for the team to transition from offense to defense.”

With a 2-3 record to start 2025, Yee has one thing to say about his prized beanpole: “She is living up to expectations [of turning the team around].”

READ: PVL: Thea Gagate eager to show more after much-awaited debut

Another young team in Capital1 has its future pinned on its rookies. The Solar Spikers, who selected Leila Cruz No. 2 pick overall and libero Roma Mae Doromal at No. 14, are looking more and more like they belong despite losing a couple of games in the stretch.

“Leila is a good project. We are working slowly together so that she can improve more,” coach Roger Gorayeb said of his ward from La Salle. “She’s tall and so she can really block. I want her to exploit her height.”

“I am gonna really give my 100 percent to help the team,” Cruz said. “I [want to increase my production] because we are looking for who will step up. And I want to take the responsibility by doing my best and deliver points.”

Other notable draftees

Doromal, meanwhile, is guarding the Solar Spikers’ floor like there is no tomorrow as what a libero should do. And she knows that she can’t do anything less to help lift her team from a 1-4 standing, saying “the responsibility is on us now and we accept that responsibility and we’ll do what we can.”

Galeries Tower also has its pair of rookies at the front line with Alas Pilipinas playmaker Julia Coronel, the No. 3 pick, and rising go-to hitter Jewel Encarnacion from University of the Philippines who was picked in the second round.

Also very young, the Highrisers have challenged big teams with their floor defense but the lack of maturity and experience doomed them in most of their games.

The Draft is a brilliant move on the part of the PVL, even if some of the teams won’t agree. And by doing so and even if it is coming slowly, parity—which will assure the league of a prolonged existence—looks achievable.