By: Ernest Tuazon
Petro Gazz head of volleyball operations Oliver Almadro acknowledged that the 12 PVL squads should take a hard look at provincial and NCAA talent who have signed up for the league’s first-ever draft scheduled for July 8.
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 Almazan; 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 compose the NCAA alumna contingent that have signed up for the draft.
Meanwhile, composing the non-Manila draftees list are 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.
(C) PVL Images
“We know that the UAAP is at a much higher level, but we cannot underestimate the NCAA and provincial players because right now, the level of volleyball in the country is growing,” said Almadro, a multiple-time UAAP champion coach, respectively.
Despite the glaring gap between the UAAP and the NCAA, Almadro, who is also the head coach of the Lady Knights, knows that there are a lot of diamonds in the rough in the Grand Old League.
Almadro added that Angels head coach Koji Tsuzurabara is currently ranking all of the players across different positions to select the best player available with the 10th pick to boost Petro Gazz’s upcoming Reinforced Campaign.
Petro Gazz finished third in the previous All-Filipino Conference, retaining its core led by reigning MVP Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Philips, Jonah Sabete, and Djanel Cheng.
(C) PVL Images
“Right now, Coach Koji is ranking all of the positions, so I guess we’re looking at the best available players in every position,” Almadro said.
“Coach Koji is happy to discover talents he hadn’t seen in the UAAP. He’s really ranking it per position, so we’ll see.”
