MANILA, Philippines – The 2025 Rookie Draft, which will feature a record 60 aspiring professional volleyball players, will mark a major advancement for the Premier Volleyball League (PVL). Mhicaela “Bella” Belen, a three-time Most Valuable Player from National University (NU) and UAAP standout, is the star of this year’s pool. Both fans and pundits have taken notice of Belen’s participation in the draft.

Belen is anticipated to be selected among the first picks in this year’s draft because of her spectacular plays and steady play throughout her undergraduate career. She is accompanied by Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring, two of her NU colleagues who have already established themselves in the collegiate volleyball scene.

On May 30 and 31, the PVL will hold a two-day combine in Manila’s Paco Arena to kick off the pre-draft process. All applicants must participate in this combine, which consists of demanding assessments and examinations meant to gauge a player’s physical prowess, volleyball prowess, and general preparedness for the professional level. Measurements of height and reach, physical examinations, agility and athletic activities, position-specific skill evaluations, scrimmage matches, and one-on-one interviews with league officials and coaches are all part of the evaluation process.

On June 8, the Novotel Manila in Araneta City, Quezon City, will host the formal draft event. The competition will be a crucial time for teams hoping to add new players to their squads as well as for aspiring rookies.

After winning the top slot in the draft lottery, which includes the lowest four clubs of the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, Capital1 became the fortunate owner of the first overall pick. In the proposed sequence, Galeries Tower, Farm Fresh, and NXLED come after Capital1. In order to maintain a balanced distribution of talent and provide lower-ranked clubs with the chance to bolster their rosters, the order will be reversed in subsequent rounds according to the final team rankings in the previous conference.

A diverse range of players is expected to enter the draft in addition to the NU trio. It is anticipated that a number of players from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) will contribute. These include May Ann Nuique and Ayesha Juegos from Adamson University, Alexis Miner and Lyann De Guzman from Ateneo de Manila University, Alleiah Malaluan and Baby Jyne Soreno from De La Salle University, Jean Asis and Chenie Tagaod from Far Eastern University, Pia Abbu from the University of Santo Tomas, Riza Nogales from the University of the East, and Nica Celis from the University of the Philippines.

Additionally, well-represented is the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). This group is led by former NCAA MVP Mycah Go of College of Saint Benilde, with participation from Kristine Adante and Cherry Mae Cuenca of Arellano University, Zonxi Jane Dahab of Lyceum, Jan Gregorio of San Beda, Maliey Amante of JRU, Letran’s Angelique Ledesma, Winnie Bedana of Perpetual Help, and Jhan Pauline Fortuno of EAC.

A number of Filipino-foreign athletes who have expressed their desire to play professionally in the Philippines have added to the pool’s variety this year. Among them are Filipino-American setters Tia Andaya and Alohi Robins-Hardy, who both contribute playmaking abilities and international experience. In keeping with the increased interest in the PVL around the world, five Filipino-Canadian players are also included on the list: Yveian Orpiano, Reinali Calisin, Clara Serrano, Divine Cortez, and Mary Ann Rioflorido.

All candidates had to be at least 21 years old by December 31, 2024, among other eligibility requirements. To verify their eligibility to play, Filipino-foreigners are required to provide a valid Philippine passport or a Philippine-issued birth certificate by the application deadline.

Teams will have 15 calendar days after the draft to extend qualifying offers to the rookies they choose. In order to highlight their worth and potential long-term impact, first-round picks must be offered a minimum three-year contract. Later-round and second-round picks are guaranteed a minimum of one year’s contract. A contract that is good for at least one conference must be offered to undrafted players who sign after the draft.

In 2024, the PVL made history by introducing the rookie draft, which was designed to ensure balance among teams, expedite player recruiting, and avoid bidding wars.