After being selected 10th overall by Galeries Tower in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft, former Far Eastern University middle blocker Ann Asis is ready to bring her poise and relentless net defense to the professional ranks.
Joining a Highrisers squad that already features a strong middle blocker rotation in former Lady Tamaraw teammate Jean Asis and Roselle Baliton, Ann is focused on making an immediate impact for a Galeries side eager to break through in a highly competitive nine-team field.
Aside from reuniting with her former running mate from FEU, Asis is also looking forward to learning from Jean — the second overall pick in the 2025 PVL Draft — and veteran middle blocker Roselle Baliton.
“Sobrang excited po, especially kay Jean kasi teammates kami sa FEU and talagang sister-sister kami. Talagang meron siya nung offense and ako naman sa defense sa blocking, yun yung parang tandem namin,” Asis told reporters last Wednesday evening at Novotel Manila in Cubao.
“Sobrang excited ako kay Ate Baliton na makasama siya sa court kasi magaling siyang mag-block and I think sobrang laki pa ng matutunan ko sa kanya.”
For the 5-foot-10 middle blocker, hearing her name called by Galeries Tower marked the culmination of the leap of faith she took in entering the professional ranks, especially after impressing the Highrisers during multiple tryout sessions.
(C) PVL Images
Those standout tryouts proved crucial for the pride of Real, Quezon. Despite limited playing time with the Lady Tamaraws due to the emergence of players like Jaz Ellarina and Cla Loresco, Asis defied the odds to become one of just 11 players selected from a pool of 38 aspirants.
“Sobrang grateful ko po na ako yung pinili nila and nakita nila talaga yung potential kasi nung nakitraining ako sa kanila talagang sila yung unang team na pinuntahan ko and talagang binigay ko lang lahat kasi nothing to lose naman talaga yung pagsali ko dito sa PVL and sobrang saya kasi nagtiwala sila sa akin,” Asis said.
“Nasa isip ko lang na kung sinuman yung team na pipili sa akin, sabi ko talaga, ipapangako ko na ibibigay ko lahat ng kaya kong ibigay sa kanila. And grateful ako na Galeries yung pumili sa akin,” she added.
Although her playing time was limited during her stint with the Tina Salak-mentored FEU squad, Asis believes those years with the Lady Tamaraws were far from wasted.
Instead, she intends to use that experience to develop the grit and resilience needed to help fuel Galeries Tower’s push for immediate success, beginning with the upcoming PVL on Tour tournament.
“Excited naman po ako na kung ano man po yung maibibigay sa akin na role and kung ano yung skills and nakuha ko sa FEU na nakuha ko na pagiging resilient, disciplined, lahat — team player naman po ako so willing po ako na ibigay lahat ng yun sa Galeries ngayon,” she said.
