After years of highs, heartbreaks, and healing in the green-and-white jersey, Alleiah Malaluan is ready to turn the page — this time with her name on the line at the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Draft, chasing not just a career, but a rebirth.
Coming off a stellar rookie performance in Season 84, Malaluan was sidelined for most of Season 85’s elimination round due to a knee injury. That time away from the court marked a turning point in her collegiate career, as she shifted into a support role within La Salle’s deep rotation of wing spikers, headlined by Season 85 Rookie-MVP Angel Canino.
Despite no longer being the top option, Malaluan continued to shine in her final season with the Lady Spikers. She showed flashes of her former brilliance, finishing Season 87 with 107 points on 87 attacks, 10 blocks, and 10 aces to help the team clinch a silver-medal finish.
“I’m actually not thinking about it much kasi lahat dito back to zero kami [at] lahat dito, equal lang ang tingin sa amin,” Malaluan told reporters during the league’s Draft Combine at Paco Arena in Manila on Friday morning.
While some might expect her to feel pressured by the success of her former teammates — who were selected as the top four picks in last year’s inaugural PVL Draft — Malaluan prefers to focus on moving forward and embracing her own journey.
“If ever ‘man mapalad, thank you Lord, pero I’m not thinking about it much,” she added.
(C) PVL Images
More than just a shot at pro volleyball glory, Malaluan’s decision to turn professional reflects her desire for a fresh start — a new environment, new teammates, and new coaches that could help her grow not just as a player, but also as a person.
For over a decade, Malaluan’s identity has been closely tied to the Lasallian system. She began her journey at De La Salle-Zobel in high school before joining the Lady Spikers in college.
“I’m really excited kasi I’ll be exposed to a new environment with new people. I’m really excited for what’s to come and I’m also excited for my growth din… More on growth lang siya kasi I want to know what’s beyond me outside of La Salle.”
Before taking this next step, Malaluan made sure to properly bid farewell to her Lady Spikers teammates and coaching staff, led by the legendary Ramil de Jesus.
While he didn’t give her specific advice, De Jesus warned the 22-year-old about the challenges of life in the pros, noting how different and demanding the PVL would be compared to the collegiate level.
“It’s not totally an advice pero sinabi niya na it will be so much different like the life sa pros, sobrang bilis at mahihirapan ako. Pero I need time to adjust din, so I’ll be trusting the process na lang din,” Malaluan shared.
“Siguro my knowledge about the sport and the experience that I have had with the past few years where I have been playing,” she added, when asked what she hopes to bring to a professional team.
With Malaluan, Baby Jyne Soreno, Jessa Ordiales, and Julyana Tolentino graduating, the spotlight now turns to the explosive duo of Canino and Shevana Laput as they aim to lead La Salle’s redemption bid in the next UAAP season.
#WATCH: La Salle’s Alleiah Malaluan reveals what Coach Ramil de Jesus told her before she joined the #PVLDraft 🏐
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/MVv3oQOvMq
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 30, 2025
