Tag: spiker

Ex-UST spiker wants to show people she can play

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Pierre Abellana didn’t get too much exposure in her two-year stay with University of Santo Tomas (UST).

But Abellana, a Golden Tigress recruit from University of San Carlos, knows that she has so much more to show and she is raring to show just that if the stars align for her to get picked in the inaugural PVL Rookie Draft.

“Personally, I am really eager to show what I can do especially since I only had a limited playing time last [UAAP Season 86],” Abellana said in Filipino in the recently concluded Draft Combine.

“We also did not achieve our goal [of claiming the championship] so I guess I would just have to get over it through this,” she added referring to UST being swept by National University in their Finals clash previously.

Abellana is among the 47 aspirants hoping to get their shot in the PVL which will conduct its first-ever Draft on July 8.

The 5-foot-6 versatile spiker was a role player in her stint with UST where she was usually tapped off the bench. Her UST career can be summed up in modest numbers: 11 points from 10 attacks and an ace, nine excellent digs and six excellent receptions.

Combine results

“I really want to prove myself because I know that other people have not seen how I really play,” she said after forgoing her three remaining years of eligibility in the UAAP.

Prior to her rookie appearance in the UAAP, Abellana displayed her talent with a 23-point outing against Adamson two years ago in the preseason tournament Shakey’s Super League Collegiate Conference.

In the recent Draft Combine, the young hitter registered a second-best standing vertical jump at 63.50 centimeters, a 299-cm vertical jump with approach, a 222-cm standing broad jump, a 6.5-second modified agility T-test and a 14.35-second 60-meter shuttle run in the Anthropometry and Fitness test.

“[The Combine] was challenging but it also shows us the extent of what we can do and what else we can do for PVL,” said Abellana who also shared that her former UST coaches were supportive of her decision to try her luck in the pros.

“[The coaches] pushed me, saying that ‘you can already apply for the draft, you can do it,’” she said while also revealing that she already wants to earn to help support her family.

Knowing that she could’ve done more to help the Golden Tigresses, Abellana said who she was excited to see at the opposite side of the court, if all goes well.



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“I want to face the teams of my previous coaches: coach KungFu (Reyes, Chery Tiggo), coach Lerma (Giron, Galeries Tower), coach Shaq (delos Santos, Cignal),” Abellana said.

“[But I am still] OK having coach KungFu as a coach, he is solid and I learned a lot from him and he made me a stronger player,” she added.

Galeries eyeing outside spiker at No. 3 in PVL Rookie Draft

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Galeries Tower coaching staff at the PVL Rookie Draft combine.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Galeries Tower looks to continue building its young lineup through the 2024 PVL Rookie Draft on July 8 as it targets a scorer for its third pick and also eyeing a setter and middle blocker in the succeeding rounds.

The Highrisers coaching staff, led by coach Lerma Giron and deputy Godfrey Okumu, were in full force on the final day of the draft combine at GameVille Ball Park on Wednesday.

They already have names on top of their minds but they didn’t divulge to protect their target players.

“We could get one of those positions. The setter, outside spiker, even an opposite, or a middle blocker. These players really add value because they’re just coming into the PVL. They’re new. The difference will be the one who settles first are the one who will add more value to their teams,” said Okumu, whose squad earned the third pick in the lottery.

“I think there’s a lot of talent. As I’ve said before I came to the Philippines, there’s a lot of talent in Philippine volleyball,” he added.

READ: Thea Gagate to be picked No. 1 by ZUS Coffee in PVL Rookie Draft

The Kenyan coach said their priority is an outside spiker, who can be a game-changer for their team, which only had a total of four wins in the past two All-Filipino Conferences. 

“In our team, we hope that the person we will get will come in settled and get to know the team better. That’s the most important thing, building the team together. With the people who are in and the people coming in,” Okumu said.

Okumu said that they will also bring a Brazilian outside spiker as an import but he didn’t disclose the name as the management will announce it in the coming days. 

READ: PVL: Alyssa Eroa grateful for chance to shine with Galeries

“We have a Brazilian girl, she’s coming in soon and we hope that she can fill the gap of one of the outside spiker positions. We cannot name it for now, we wanna make it official. Sometimes in the Philippines, we like fiesta. We wait for the right time like we have a big feast, we eat, and then we name names. I think it’s cool,” he said.

With a chance to bolster their roster through the PVL draft, Okumu is optimistic about the Highrisers’ future in the pros. 

“Last season, when we started, we had new players and we didn’t have time to train together with the new players so by the team the league was coming to an end, that’s when we were kinda getting to know each other, and beginning to work together. That’s why there’s a struggle in the beginning and by the end it is strong. That’s why we believe this time, we will start strong,” he said.



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Set for No. 2 pick, Capital1 also parades Russian spiker

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Capital1 Solar Spikers Mandy Romero during the first ever PVL Draft Lottery. –PVL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —Capital1 will be parading its upcoming draft pick along with Russian outside spiker Marina Tushova as its foreign guest player in the 2024 PVL Reinforced Conference in July.

The Solar Spikers are set to pick second in the first-ever PVL Rookie Draft on July 8 and they will be complementing the new incoming talent with a “young” import who has experience in playing professionally in Russia, France and Switzerland.

“We’re proud to have signed Ms. Marina Tushova who’s an incredibly young and talented player from Russia. She has already arrived in the Philippines and so far, she’s been experiencing Filipino hospitality and warmth,” Capital1 team owner Mandy Romero told the reporters on Monday during Rookie Draft Lottery at TV5 Media Center.

READ: ZUS Coffee gets top pick for inaugural PVL Rookie Draft

“She has the Filipino fighting spirit that we’re all looking for that we hope could excite fans,” Romero said.

Filipino-American setter Iris Tolenada, who played in South Korea last year, has also signed on with Capital1 according to Romero.

Tolenada and Tushova will boost the rebuilding roster with Jorelle Singh, Patty Orendain, Des Clemente, Jannine Navarro, and Heather Guino-o

In their debut conference, the Solar Spikers only won one out of their 11 games, landing a 30 percent chance in the lottery.

READ: PVL: Gorayeb wants Capital1 to seize on newfound chance

“Our management and myself, we already have a list of players that are top of mind. We can’t reveal what we’re thinking about and what we’re looking for, but really someone to balance our team and to bring the heat, bring that starpower to our team,” said Romero.

“We’re happy to get to know our fans too and to know what the fans are thinking of on who we should pick,” she added.

With their experience from the All-Filipino and longer preparation, Romero is more confident of their team in the Reinforced Conference with also

“We put up a team in less than a month. I don’t know how many times that’s been done before but really, it’s a challenge. It was also an adventure that we were ready for,” said the Capital1 owner.

“Lots of new learnings from that initial run that we had and the year is just getting started. We still have two more conferences for this season and we’re really looking forward to what more we can offer.”

“I’m very confident in our management also, Coach Roger’s ability to shape young players and bring out the best skills that they have,” he added.



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Capital1 will pick second after ZUS Coffee in the Rookie Draft on July 8 at Novotel.