Playing under the bright lights of the UAAP and in front of a roaring crowd had always been Erika Deloria’s dream.
But that dream never came to fruition.
Instead, Deloria found herself suiting up for Enderun Colleges in the NAASCU — far from the spotlight, but never far from purpose.
It was there, away from the noise and cameras, that the 24-year-old outside hitter began to blossom. She put in the work silently — day after day, rep after rep — trusting that her time would come, even if no one was watching.
And on Sunday night, that quiet grind was finally rewarded.
Deloria was selected 20th overall by Chery Tiggo in the second round of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Draft, becoming the first non-UAAP and non-NCAA player chosen in this year’s class.
“Everyone here is talented, naghihintay lang din ng time nila and ayun. As I’ve said before, dream ko talaga mag-UAAP. Hindi siya nangyari, pero hindi pa rin ako tumigil and the Lord gave me something better,” said the former NAASCU MVP.
(C) PVL Images
Deloria now hopes to be a source of inspiration for others pursuing their dreams outside the traditional powerhouses, proving that passion and perseverance can take athletes from lesser-known programs all the way to the pros.
“I want to be an inspiration to the people na ‘yung feeling nila dahil ‘di kami kilala, meaning wala ng chance. For me, ‘yung journey ko hindi siya madali. And if you want something, you need to work hard for it,” said the former MPVA Best Outside Hitter.
“Kahit ano pa ‘yang hirap, kung dream mo talaga, passion mo talaga, gagawin mo lahat. For me, so far, lahat ng pinaghirapan ko tingin ko I think it paid off. Ganun lang din ‘yung gusto kong iwan sa mga tao na feeling nila wala ng hope, wala ng chance na makapasok sa PVL,” she added.
Deloria took pride in bringing honor to Enderun Colleges — a school that helped shape her into the player she is today. The moment became even more special when her teammate Zen Perolino was selected right after her, marking a significant breakthrough for their program.
She also expressed deep gratitude to Lady Titans head coach Dong Dela Cruz, whose steady mentorship guided them through their development, even while playing under the radar.
“Syempre meron talaga. Kasi parang nagawa ko ‘yung… in a way, hiningi ko ‘to kay Lord. Syempre hindi pa din na hindi ka gagawa, so in a way, sobrang happy na rin ako kasi it also brings pride sa school ko,” said Deloria.
“Especially kay Coach Dong [Dela Cruz]. Kahit under the radar, in terms na hindi talaga kami nakikita or what, I think he produces good players talaga, quality players talaga. Naghahanap lang din sila ng chance to shine as well,” she added.
Now standing on the biggest stage in Philippine volleyball, Deloria feels more determined than ever to prove that she belongs and to repay the faith Chery Tiggo placed in her.
“Gusto ko lang din i-thank ‘yung Chery Tiggo for taking the risk. Kahit hindi ako kilala, kinuha nila ako.”
