Pierre Abellana is staying motivated as she competes for playing time in a stacked Farm Fresh outside hitter rotation.
The University of Santo Tomas product was selected 16th overall by the Foxies, joining fourth overall selection Maicah Larroza in the up-and-coming team now headed by an all-Japanese coaching staff.
Aside from Larroza, also playing the outside position for Farm Fresh are Kate Santiago, Chinnie Arroyo, Alyssa Bertolano, Pia Ildefonso, and Ypril Tapia.
If the coaching staff decides to shift Abellana to the opposite, she will need to compete with Trisha Tubu and Caitlin Viray.
The grind, which she never runs away from, excites Abellana knowing she did not get much playing time back in college with the Golden Tigresses.
“Super motivated, and I have to be super motivated. Kasi in order for me to play with the Foxies… hindi naman po agad ganoon mabibigay ‘yung playing time ko, so ayun kailangan ko magsipag,” she said moments after getting drafted on Monday at the Novotel.
(C) PVL Images
Abellana, a 5-foot-4 high-leaper, impressed during the two-day Draft Combine last June with top five performances in one-minute pushups (43 reps), standing vertical jump (25.0 inches), and 60m shuttle run (14.35 seconds).
Now, she is set to face her former UST teammates in the country’s first and only professional volleyball league, including Eya Laure, Imee Hernandez, and more.
“Ayun, excited po. Kasi for me it’s a new page, lalo na after noong collegiate career ko eto na, super excited po ako na maglaro against sa kanila,” said the Cebuana hitter.
Although she is moving on to a new system after playing under Kungfu Reyes for the past few years, adjustment would not be a trouble for Abellana.
Last January, the Tigresses went to Japan for a training camp where they were hosted by the Kurashiki Ablaze – the 2023 PVL Invitational champions. Shota Sato, an assistant coach for Kurashiki, will now run Farm Fresh as the head tactician.
“Siguro there won’t be adjustment for me, kasi sila din po ‘yung team kung saan kami (UST) nag-training camp last year. It is an advantage for me, kasi na-experience ko na kung paano sila magpatraining,” shared Abellana.
