Filipino-American middle blocker MJ Phillips was selected fifth overall by Gwangju of the Korean V-League in the 2023 KOVO Asian Quota Draft, Friday afternoon.
Phillips thanked the Peppers for taking a chance on her and said that she is very excited to start the season with her new squad.
“Maraming salamat for picking me. Thank you Peppers family,” said the reigning PVL Best Middle Blocker.
“I’m just very excited, this has been my dream since I was a little girl so I’m just very excited to start the season and yeah, I hope the Peppers fans are excited as well.”
Hwaseong IBK went with Thai star Pornpun Guedpard as the number one pick.
Suwon Hyundai and Daejeon KGC picked up Wipawee Srithong and Megawati Pertiwi with the second and third picks, respectively.
Indonesia’s Mediol Yoku was selected sixth by the GS Caltex Seoul while Reina Tokoku of Japan was nabbed by Incheon Heungkuk Life with the last pick.
Phillips of Petro Gazz was the lone player from the Philippines that got selected as Dindin Santiago-Manabat of Akari, F2 Logistics’ Majoy Baron and Iris Tolenada, Mylene Paat of Chery Tiggo, and Creamline’s Jia De Guzman went undrafted.