By: Ernest Tuazon
The Philippine passion for volleyball and strong family ties in the country motivated Aleiah Torres, a Filipino raised in Canada, to apply for the inaugural PVL Draft scheduled for July 8.
Torres, a 22-year-old libero with roots in Cavite and Tarlac, was born and raised by Filipino parents in Toronto, Canada.
There, she began playing volleyball at the age of 12.
“I really liked watching the teams here. The crowd is really exciting, everyone is always involved when they are watching the games,” Torres told reporters during the first-ever PVL Draft Combine held on Tuesday at the Gameville Ballpark in Sheridan, Mandaluyong.
“I just thought it was super exciting [and] being able to play in the Philippines is super special for me since I have a lot of family here.”
(C) PVL Images
The libero emphasized that her high volleyball IQ, leadership skills, and fast-paced playstyle give her an edge over the other 46 applicants for the inaugural PVL Draft.
During her final season at Brook University, Torres led her team with 234 total digs and 3.44 assists per set over 20 regular season matches.
She averaged 2.70 digs per set and matched her career-high of 26 digs in five playoff games during her senior year.
“As a libero, I can read the game very well, especially from the backcourt – just playing defense and seeing what my teammates should be doing up at the net. I let them know how many hitters they have, where to attack, what’s open for them,” Torres said.
While managing her expectations ahead of the PVL Draft, Torres expressed her desire to make an immediate impact on whichever team selects her.
Each round of the PVL Draft comprises 12 picks across all teams, continuing until all teams in a round decline to select a player.
“I don’t really have a lot of expectations,” she bared.
“I just came here to have lots of fun, and hopefully I can contribute to whoever team I am drafted to and just experience everything the Philippines has to offer.”
