Outside spikers Barbie Jamili and Khy Cepada emerged as the top performers among the 42 aspirants during the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft Combine held at Gameville Ballpark in Mandaluyong.
Day 1 of the Combine on Thursday featured anthropometric measurements as well as a series of performance assessments conducted by the Valor Performance Institute, including speed, power, reactive strength, and durability tests.
Jamili excelled in multiple categories, topping the 10-meter sprint with a time of 1.759 seconds, the pro agility 5-10-5 test with 5.109 seconds, and the hop test reactive strength index with 3.36 meters per second.
“Ang ma-o-offer ko lang po is gawin ko yung best ko para makahelp sa team and I’m willing naman po to learn din,” said Jamili.
(C) PVL Images
Six-foot-one opposite hitter Alyssa Solomon posted the highest vertical reach at 300 centimeters, while middle blocker Niña Ytang registered the highest approach jump at 311 centimeters.
Libero Lara Mae Silva led all aspirants in the countermovement jump with a mark of 46.4 centimeters.
(C) PVL Images
Cepada also delivered an impressive showing, finishing among the top five in six different drills.
The University of the East standout placed second in both the 10-meter sprint (1.776 seconds) and countermovement jump (44.7 centimeters), third in the pro agility 5-10-5 test (5.133 seconds), and fifth in both the hop test reactive strength index (2.28 meters per second) and approach jump (295 centimeters).
“Nagulat ako sa laki ng players, plus maganda rin ‘yung measurements sa Valor. Maraming athletic ngayon. Ang ganda ng quality ng players this class,” said PVL Control Committee chairman Sherwin Malonzo.
“May pang-measure din ‘yung Valor sa strength ng braso; makikita mo kung gaano kalakas ‘yung upper body strength nila, which translates mostly to palo or bato sa set and even sa floor defense, kasi mas malakas ang upper body mo, mas maganda ang ball control,” he added.
Day 2 of the Combine featured scrimmages, with draftees playing the positions they listed in their applications. Aspirants who applied for multiple positions were given opportunities to play both in separate games.
The Draft, supported by Buffalo’s Wings and Things, Ibis Styles Manila, Novotel Manila, and Gameville, is scheduled for June 3, with Galeries Tower holding the first overall pick.
Capital1 will select second, followed by Choco Mucho, ZUS Coffee, Akari, Nxled, Farm Fresh, PLDT, and Creamline, in that order.
