Eliminated from contention, the Premier Volleyball League’s bottom three teams — Nxled, Capital1, and Farm Fresh — are now shifting their focus to the upcoming Rookie Draft, hoping to turn their fortunes around next season.
The Chameleons, Solar Spikers, and Foxies — along with the third-seeded Cignal HD Spikers — were the first to bow out of the grueling five-month-long 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference, exiting in the high-stakes play-in tournament.
Now, their attention turns to strengthening their rosters, addressing key positions, and making the right selections in the PVL Rookie Draft.
Nxled head coach Etorre Guidetti, fresh from his first conference with the team, shared that they have already scouted several collegiate prospects.
His coaching staff is now narrowing down their list, identifying the best players for each position to provide much-needed support for EJ Laure, Chiara Permentilla, and Jaja Maraguinot next season.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“The situation right now is a little bit shady. No one exactly knows how it will 100-percent work — how many of the university players we’ve looked at will stay here in the Philippines or play abroad. So, for sure, we’re selecting from a big range of players,” said Guidetti.
“To be 100-percent honest with you, and not be a hypocrite, we are selecting basically a good player for every position.”
Meanwhile, Farm Fresh head coach Benson Bocboc and Capital1 mentor Roger Gorayeb are targeting specific roles in the draft, carefully assessing which players can fill key gaps in their roster and contribute to their long-term plans.
Bocboc admitted that the Foxies heavily relied on outside hitter Trisha Tubu for scoring throughout the All-Filipino Conference. To ease the burden on the former league Best Opposite Spiker, he aims to find her an ideal running mate in the draft.
Players such as Jolina Dela Cruz, Rachel Daquis, and Alyssa Bertolano have taken turns in that role for Farm Fresh, but Bocboc believes having more offensive weapons will give the team greater versatility to compete against the league’s top contenders.
(C) UP OASD
“Siyempre scorer. Wala kaming iniscore eh, si Tubu lang eh. Kaya pagka kailangan mag-recover ni Tubu, talagang kulang. Pinipilit namin kunin kay Jolina (Dela Cruz), kay (Rachel) Daquis pero hindi pa consistent eh,” said Bocboc.
“Meron pero hindi consistent, so mas marami, mas maganda. Para mas maraming options. Mas mahirapan ‘yung kalaban kung sakali,” he added.
As for Gorayeb, the Solar Spikers are in urgent need of a dominant middle blocker — someone who can anchor their defense, strengthen their net presence, and relieve some of the pressure on their wing spikers.
The veteran coach acknowledged that while adding depth to their open hitter rotation is important, securing a reliable middle blocker remains the team’s top priority in the draft.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Kailangang kailangan namin ay middle talaga. Doon ako nahihirapan. Middle talaga na legitimate, tapos well-experienced,” said Gorayeb.
“Opener siguro, outside hitter, isa o dalawa. Pero ‘yung middle ang malaking gap sa amin. Kasi kapag walang threat sa gitna…” he added.
Des Clemente and Julia Ipac have shared duties at the net for Capital1, with Ipac delivering her best performance of the conference in their final game of the All-Filipino tilt, scoring a game-high 17 points against ZUS Coffee last Thursday.
However, Gorayeb knows that relying solely on Clemente and Ipac won’t be enough if they want to be more competitive next season.
“Kawawa ‘yung outside hitter. Sa kanila nakasalalay ‘yung pagpanalo sa team. Hindi madidistribute kasi kung wala kang threat sa middle, talagang open lang ‘yung pupuntahan mo.”
