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The winner and winners of the first Philippine Super Liga Draft

It was a historical event and it now sets the precedent for the sport.

When the Philippine Super Liga (PSL) held its first ever Draft at the NBA Café in SM Aura, Taguig City last Wednesday (April 2nd) all the volleyball aficionados waited with baited breath on how the proceedings would turn out. After all, it had never been done before. But with a number of blue-chip prospects leaving the collegiate ranks for good, it only seemed fitting that they go through this process; a rite of passage, if you like, between being varsity queens to semi-professional newbies.

One athlete once said, “How do you go from being the best to number one thousandth in the world? Turn pro.”

Although the PSL is still not actually the professional ranks as far as women’s volleyball is concerned, it sure comes close—especially with the pageantry that greeted the incoming players and the media on that ceremonious Wednesday.

Personally, I was apprehensive.

Not all the ladies in the draft pool were rookies—there were seven Free Agents who enlisted, hoping to get another crack at finding a new squad before the PSL All-Filipino kicks off on May 10th. Some had already being attending workouts with teams. Not all of them had impressive résumés. But they all showed up to legitimize a process and the PSL made sure that the Draft was akin to that of its basketball brothers.

At the end of the day, I was elated. It wasn’t because I helped the league as the floor director that day, but because women’s volleyball had levelled up anew.

PSL Ambassadress Gretchen Ho expressed it so eloquently when she looked back at the days when they were playing in near empty gymnasiums, but were training just as hard as the basketball players. She’s right. It’s evolved and with the first PSL Draft, the evolution has taken another gigantic step forward.

For those who missed it, here was the Draft Order:

#1 Petron

#2 AirAsia*

#3 RC Cola

#4 Cagayan Valley

#5 PLDT MyDSL

#6 Cignal HD

#7 Generica-Army**

*New Franchise

**Old Franchise, New Team Sponsor

And here’s how it went:

#1 Petron:

1st Round—Din-Din Santiago (NU)

2nd Round—Carmina Aganon (NU)

3rdRound—Mayette Zapanta (AdU)

4th Round—pass

#2 AirAsia:

1st Round—Abigail Maraño (DLSU)

2nd Round—Wensh Tiu (DLSU)

3rd Round—May Macatunoꜝ (AdU)

4th Round—Arianna Angustia (EAC)

#3 RC Cola:

1st Round—Iari Yongco (DLSU-D)

2nd Round—Jill Gustiloꜝ (AdU)

3rd Round—Toni Faye Tan (UP)

4th Round—South Ramosꜝ (UP)

#4 Cagayan Valley:

1st Round—Janine Marciano (SBC)

2nd Round—Charlene Gillego (UMak)

3rd Round—pass

4th Round—n/a

#5 PLDT MyDSL:

1st Round—Jamenea Ferrer (AdMU)

2nd Round—Rysabelle Devanadera (SSC-R)

3rd Round—pass

4th—n/a

#6 Cignal HD

1st Round—Norie Jane Diaz (UPHSD)

2nd Round—Michiko Castañedaꜝ (UP)

3rd Round—pass

4th Round—n/a

#7 Generica-Army

1st—Christine Agno (FEU)

2nd—Joyce Palad (UP)

3rd—pass

4th—n/a

Undrafted Players:

Lexyl Lou Oserio (AU)

Michelle del Rosarioꜝ (UST)

April Sampang (UM)

Diane Ticar (AU)

Joanna Torrijosꜝ (UST)

ꜝFree Agents (FA)

Under league rules, those who were undrafted are now on Post-Draft Waivers for three days and can be approached by any team to have a tryout or a second consideration but can only sign with a new team once they are out of waivers.

As for the draft picks, they have one week (Draft day included) to sign with the team that selected them. If they fail to come to terms with a contract at the end of seven days (which includes the weekend), then they will also be placed on Waivers and follow the same procedure.

If a player remains unsigned after the waiver period, then that player becomes a Free Agent (FA) and can approach any team in an attempt to get a roster slot.

I remember feeling bad for the five ladies who weren’t selected as some teams already opted to pass as early as the third round. So I voluntarily got them together and tugged Gretchen Ho along with me to give them a post-draft pep talk and how they can still enter the league. Gretchen reminded them to keep pursuing their passion despite this minor setback. They didn’t appear to be disheartened and Gretchen’s words looked to have sparked a new hope in them.

So now that the draft is behind us, here’s how each line-up now looks (of, course we are still more than a month away from opening day, so these rosters could still change):

PETRON

O Carmina Aganon—Draft, 2nd Round

M Gretchen Ho

S Mary Grace Masangkay—Direct Sign (DS), employee

O Maica Morada

S Ana Marie del Mundo—DS, employee

L Jen Reyes—FA, formerly from Cagayan Valley

M Genina Sta. Ana—DS, employee

M Din-Din Santiago—Draft, 1st Round

M Sandra de los Santos—FA, formerly from Cagayan Valley

U Merichelle Tagudin—FA, formerly from PLDT MyDSL

O Mayette Zapanta—Draft, 3rd Round

HEAD COACH: George Pascua (sans Vilet Ponce-de Leon)

Roster Slot Remaining—1

I think the Blaze Spikers won the Draft. Imagine this line-up without Santiago, Aganon and Zapanta. I also believe that Zapanta was the steal of the Draft; being picked in the third round. I remember how quickly Petron Assistant Coach Shaq de los Santos gave the sealed envelope to the usherette when PSL Commissioner Ian Laurel announced that it was the start of the third round.

Now that they drafted three solid prospects, signed former league Best Spiker Sandra de los Santos and acquired superstar libero Jen Reyes, the only question now is how fast can they gel under new Head Coach George Pascua.

The transition for the three former National University lasses would be that Pascua’s deputy is former Lady Bulldogs mentor Edjet Mabbayad. Ho and Morada provide that veteran presence and it looks like it will only be a matter of time before the Blaze Spikers threaten for the title.

AIRASIA

M Arianna Angustia—Draft, 4th Round

O Charlene Cruz—DS, expansion option

L Melissa Gohing—FA, formerly from Petron

U Michele Gumabao—FA, formerly from Bingo Milyonaryo

M Mic-Mic Laborte—FA, formerly from Petron

S May Macatuno—FA, formerly from PLDT MyDSL

M Abigail Maraño—Draft, 1st Round

O Stephanie Mercado—FA, formerly from Petron

M Maureen Penetrante-Ouano—FA, formerly from Cignal HD

O Wensh Tiu—Draft, 2nd Round

HEAD COACH: Ramil de Jesus (new)

Roster Slots Remaining—2

It’s not everyday where you see an Expansion Team this formidable. Add to the solid roster the experience of multiple UAAP champion coach Ramil de Jesus at the helm, and the newest team in the league have won the paper war.

If cohesion and familiarity will be the early issues of Petron, there will be no such problem for AirAsia (moniker pending). With a core of different generations of De La Salle University (DLSU) players, there’s a running joke within the league that they should just call themselves the AirAsia Lady Spikers.

They will be working with a setter who is not from their program, though, as Macatuno doesn’t exactly fit the description of a de Jesus-type playmaker (not that tall)—despite her innate talents.

There are still two slots available for the newest franchise in the PSL. Rumor has it that they will wait for the Draft Signing and Waiver periods to elapse and get a setter very familiar with the squad—such as Mika Esperanza. The former UAAP Rookie of the Year was not included in the Draft due to scholastic issues, although there are already some sectors that claim she might not come back for her fifth year of eligibility.

Other than that, AirAsia could be the first expansion team in Philippine sports that could battle for a championship since Tanduay did it in the PBA in 1999.

RC COLA

O Judy Ann Caballejo—FA formerly from Petron

O Joy Gazelle Cases—FA, formerly from Cagayan Valley

S Rhea Dimaculangan—FA, formerly from Petron

L Jill Gustilo—Draft, 2nd Round (reacquisition)

O Jennifer Manzano—FA, formerly from Cagayan Valley

L Jed Montero

M Maika Ortiz—FA, formerly from Petron

M Liza de Ramos—FA, formerly from Cagayan Valley

M South Ramos—Draft, 4th round (reacquisition)

M Ivy Remulla

S Wendy Ann Semana—FA, formerly from Cagayan Valley

U Toni Faye Tan—Draft, 3rd Round

U Iari Yongco—Draft, 1st Round

HEAD COACH: Ronald Dulay

Roster Slots Remaining—1 over limit

OK, this is definitely not the same team that was considered the whipping girls of the league last season. With the merger of the Philippine Air Force and the Raiders, RC Cola now becomes a major contender this year.

The drafting of Yongco—who I installed as one of the Best Utility spikers in the country in my year-end article—just solidified the newfound length the Raiders will be parading upfront. Gustilo was reacquired as an insurance policy for Montero—who was never really a true libero, but a wicked open-spiker. Montero is almost back to full strength after recovering from that debilitating ankle injury that ended her college career abruptly, so the libero position might come down to a virtual coinflip.

This is a team that will have no problem in the setting department, with two world class orchestrators in the line-up. Dimaculangan and Semana will also actually spend time together on the floor when Dulay moves the latter to the utility-spot.

The glaring issue RC Cola has to deal with now is player rotation—there’s too much talent now. Once Dulay finishes his duties as assistant coach for the PLDT Home Tvolution Power Pinoys, then he will have to find a way to dissect this “good” problem.

CAGAYAN VALLEY

O Analyn Joy Benito

U Leuseht Dawis

M Wenneth Eulalio

L Charlene Gillego—Draft, 2nd Round

O Janine Marciano—Draft, 1st Round

U Aiza Maizo-Pontillas

O Sheila Pineda—Reacquisition (from PSL Invitational)

S Chie Saet

M Paulina Soriano

O Angeli Tabaquero

O Rosemarie Vargas

HEAD COACH: Nestor Pamilar

Roster Slot Remaining—1

The Rising Suns are composed of the core of the 2013 Power Pinays. Now they add three supporting pieces to an already powerhouse line-up. Coach Nes Pamilar will have a blast honing the ridiculous potentials of Pineda, Marciano and Gillego and their offense will be at the strongest we’ve seen in years.

The downside of drafting one of the best open-spikers in the NCAA and a hard-working libero then passing on the third round is that they did not address their ceiling problem.

Cagayan Valley is still one of the smallest teams in the league and until they find that Long Tall Sally in front, their net defense will always be under the microscope.

They still have one slot open. Who do they acquire to fill that with?

PLDT MyDSL

O Maruja Banaticla

O Angela Benting

M Rysabelle Devanadera—Draft, 2nd Round

S Jamenea Ferrer—Draft, 1st Round

L Lizlee Ann Gata-Pantone

M Nica Guliman

O Luann Latigay

S Rubie de Leon

U Charmaine Moralde

S Lourdes Patilano

U Suzanne Roces

M Charo Soriano

HEAD COACH: Roger Gorayeb

Roster Slot Remaining—0

For Gorayeb, he really didn’t need to beef-up his line-up via the Draft. But he still went on to select two of his former players in former Ateneo star setter Jem Ferrer and queen quicker Sasa Devanadera from his San Sebastian NCAA dominance days. We all know that de Leon will still be starting and Ferrer will be her back-up and Devanadera might still come off the bench for either Charo or Nica, but the Speed Boosters have exactly all the tools they need to win it all.

By passing in the third round, Gorayeb sent a message to all that his team doesn’t need retooling. They just missed the bus during the PSL Grand Prix and by the looks of it, they may board it this time around--in the driver's seat.

CIGNAL HD

U Rapril Aguilar

S Arraine Argarin

U Michiko Castañeda—Draft, 2nd Round

M Michelle Datuin

O Norie Jane Diaz—Draft, 1st Round

L Angelique Dionela

O Kennette Garces—DS, Employee

O Danika Gendrauli

M Lilet Mabbayad

M Lutgarda Malaluan

M Abigail Praca

M Honey Royse Tubino—Reacquisition (from PSL Invitational)

HEAD COACH: Sammy Acaylar

Roster Slots Remaining—0

This team made it to the Finals twice with what many referred to as an inferior line-up. Sure, they had inaugural league MVP Venus Bernal in the Invitational and had the help of two talented Chinese imports in the Grand Prix. Now that all of those are absent, it will be up to Acaylar to weave his magic wand anew.

I’m not saying the HD Spikers have a weak roster. On the contrary, it is one of the most stacked in the league. It’s not the fastest team, though. After Dionela, there is not enough speed left. The loss to Free Agency of reigning league Best Quicker Penetrante-Ouano will also test the resolve of those who are left.

Can they make their third straight Finals appearance in the All-Filipino? That truly remains to be seen.

GENERICA-ARMY

L Christine Agno—Draft, 1st Round

M Jacqueline Alarca

M Mary Jean Balse

O Nerissa Bautista

O Dahlia Cruz

O Rachel Anne Daquis

U Jovelyn Gonzaga

S Teresa Iratay

L Angela Nunag

U Joyce Palad—Draft, 2nd Round

M Genie Sabas

HEAD COACH: Rico de Guzman

Roster Slots Remaining—1

Plain and simple: No Tina Salak, no way.

That, of course, is the prognosis of those so-called "experts" who believe the Lady Troopers pin their hopes on the thirty-something year old former national team setter. They were able to address their “vacancy” at the libero position by drafting Agno, a former UAAP Best Digger—who has decided to forego her final year of eligibility for the Lady Tamaraws this coming Season 77. But they still didn’t find a capable setter to help Iratay hold the fort in Salak’s absence.

Generica-Army passed up on a golden opportunity in the Draft by snubbing Ticar; Arellano University’s incredible setter.

Ticar went undrafted and while she is almost certain to land a spot on a PSL roster, will it be on Lady Troopers’ line-up?

That one slot remaining is almost guaranteed to be for a setter, so that Daquis, Gonzaga and the middle-spikers will have something to feast on and be all they can be. Until that is done, their chances of a three-peat looks pretty slim.

Epilogue:

These line-ups are on paper, for now. How they will perform once the PSL All-Filipino begins will be an entirely different story. Let’s witness that story together on May 10, when the PSL opens its doors again at the renowned PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

Congratulations to all the draft picks and to the league. You are all winners and no one—including the undrafted players—came out on the losing end.

Gretchen was right. It truly is exciting times for volleyball and I’m also very happy to be part of its evolution.

See you on opening day.

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com