MANILA, Philippines – Excitement is in the air at the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong as four clubs compete for the coveted first choice in the PVL Rookie Draft Lottery. The draw, which is set for 7 p.m., will decide which four teams from the most recent All-Filipino Conference are selected in what order.

Capital1, Galeries Tower, Farm Fresh, and Zus Coffee—formerly known as Strong Group Athletics—are among the teams taking part in the lottery. Every club is excited for the July 8 draft, which will see 47 talented prospects chosen in order to choose the first pick.

These four clubs’ draft order will be decided by the lottery, which will also influence their upcoming season plans. After then, the order of selection for the fifth choice onward has already been decided. After AFC champion Creamline, Akari, Cignal, PLDT, Chery Tiggo, Petro Gazz, and Choco Mucho, Nxled will get the fifth overall choice.

For these organizations, who are trying to bolster their rosters and assemble competitive teams for the upcoming campaign, this draft is a critical step forward.

In the second round, the order of selection for the first pick will be reversed from the previous conference’s final standings, with Zus Coffee choosing first, Capital1, Galeries Tower, and Farm Fresh coming in second and third, respectively.

The names of the four worst teams’ teams will be dropped into the lottery drum by the representatives of those teams in person.

A two-day Draft Combine featuring rookies and free agents is scheduled on June 25–26 at Mandaluyong City’s Gameville Ballpark.

When will Kianna Dy, a PLDT celebrity, start acting again?

It is unknown when Kianna Dy will make her eagerly anticipated PLDT High Speed Hitters debut.

At the 2023 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Invitational Conference, Dy revealed that she is recuperating from a knee injury that she sustained in October of last year while still competing for the now-defunct F2 Logistics Cargo Movers

Dy says she is “doing good” and is still “day-by-day” while the High Speed Hitters prepare for the highly anticipated 2024 season.

The team’s star spiker said, “With my injury, we’re going day-by-day. And I just don’t want to give a specific date when I’m going to play because ayaw kong paasahin din yung sarili ko and also the supporters. So, we just go day-by-day and see what happens,” on Saturday during the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) leg in Manila.

Should she ultimately be able to play for PLDT, she will share the taraflex with Elena Samoilenko, a Russian import.

“I already met her and she’s really nice. I’ve actually played against her the last time, so now, [we’re] preparing for the next league and hopefully I get to join her play. Sana,” Dy said.

The High Speed Hitters are looking to improve on their fifth-place showing in the 2024 All-Filipino Conference, when they were beaten by Creamline by one point in the standings and missed out on a semifinal spot.

A delicious boost for Choco Mucho in Dindin Santiago-Manabat

The Rebisco squad will welcome seasoned spiker Dindin Santiago-Manabat, the organization revealed on social media on Monday.

“Brace yourselves for another sweet conference! Dindin Santiago-Manabat, a multi-awarded powerhouse, is set to change the pace!” the team said.

Santiago-Manabat, who most recently played with the Akari Chargers, was a PVL champion with the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro Crossovers.

For Coach Dante Alinsunurin and team, this is a positive development as they want to add important pieces to their armory before their star spiker Sisi Rondina and colleague Flying Titan Cherry Nunag are set to miss time due to Alas Pilipinas obligations.

“Honestly ngayon, namomroblema kami sa tao talaga kasi kulang na kami before nu’ng naglaro kami ng championship tapos nabawasan pa kami ng dalawa. Sobrang mahirap para sa’min, mahirap mag-training,” Alinsunurin had previously stated.

With Kat Tolentino, Des Cheng, and Aduke Ogunsanya still recuperating from their individual ailments, the team is further lacking in depth.

With the responsibility of trying to better, if not match, its silver medal results from the 2023 Second All-Filipino Conference and 2024 All-Filipino, Choco Mucho joins the Reinforced Conference.