After days of speculation, the 2016 Philippine Superliga Draft concluded with a frantic, last-minute scramble.
When the dust settled, former UAAP MVP Ara Galang emerged as the top overall pick, selected by the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers — the sudden holders of the No. 1 pick.
F2 Logistics was originally slated to draft fifth while RC Cola-Army was originally the holders of the first overall pick.
However, following a board meeting the night before the draft, the order was completely reshuffled — a move that shocked the volleyball community.
Equally mind-boggling was Petron’s leap from the seventh pick all the way to second overall, where they selected Arellano University standout CJ Rosario.
Generika was the original owners of the second pick.
University of Mindanao setter Renelyn Raterta was selected third by Amy’s Kitchen–Perpetual.
Former FEU middle blocker Geneveve Casugod went fourth to Generika, while Davao tower Mary Grace Berte returned to Cignal with the fifth pick.
Former Arellano University spiker Dana Henson also rejoined her Invitational team, Foton Toplander, at sixth.
Jonah Sabete was picked seventh by Navy, while RC Cola–Army, the original holder of the No. 1 pick, passed on the final selection of the first round.
In the second round, three teams — Petron, Perpetual, and RC Cola–Army — opted to pass on their selections.
Angelica Legacion was taken 11th overall by Generika, Marlyn Llagoso went 12th to Cignal, and Shirley Salamagos closed out the draft as the final pick, selected by Foton.
“I just feel really blessed that I was picked by the team I wanted to go to,” said Galang, who had to tune out swirling rumors about her destination, largely due to concerns over her knee injury.
As for the transactions that led to the dramatic reordering of the draft, no specific details were disclosed by the league or team officials.
