THIRTY-EIGHT prospects will hope to hear their names called on Wednesday as the 2026 PVL Draft takes center stage at Novotel Manila Araneta City.
Leading this year’s draft class are two-time UAAP Best Setter Camilla Lamina of National University and two-time UAAP Best Libero Bernadett Pepito of the University of Santo Tomas.
The draft ceremony, which will air on One Sports, One Sports+, and Pilipinas Live at 7 p.m., is supported by Buffalo’s Wings and Things, Ibis Styles Manila, and Gameville.
Also looking to capitalize on impressive performances at the Draft Combine, which was done by Valor Performance Institute, are Adamson University’s Barbie Jamili and University of the East’s Khy Cepada.
Jamili excelled in several categories, topping the 10-meter sprint with a time of 1.759 seconds, the pro agility 5-10-5 test at 5.109 seconds, and the hop test reactive strength index with 3.36 meters per second.
Meanwhile, Cepada placed second in both the 10-meter sprint (1.776 seconds) and countermovement jump (44.7 centimeters), third in the pro agility 5-10-5 test (5.133 seconds), and fifth in both the hop test reactive strength index (2.28 meters per second) and approach jump (295 centimeters).
Far Eastern University’s Tin Ubaldo will not attend the draft proper as she remains with the Alas Pilipinas Women pool preparing for the 2026 AVC Women’s Cup.
Other UAAP standouts included in the final draft pool are UST’s Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula; UP’s Irah Jaboneta, Joan Monares, Heart Magsombol, and Jum Gayo; FEU’s Ann Asis and Florize Papa; De La Salle University’s Ela Raagas, Michelle Beterina, and Sophia Sindayen; the University of the East trio of Khy Cepada, Tin Ecalla, and Kayce Balingit; ADU’s Barbie Jamili; and ADMU’s Taks Fujimoto. TMT
