WITH three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen poised to be tabbed No. 1 overall by Capital1, several teams are looking at other options available in the coming PVL rookie Draft.
The rest of the field has their eyes on a quality middle blocker that will boost their frontline.
But the Solar Spikers also intend to get a middle blocker, according to team consultant Roger Gorayeb.
“At least mauuna kami sa pagpili, mapipili namin iyong kailangan talaga. Kailangan na lang naman namin, sa ngayon, isang outside at isang middle siguro,” Gorayeb said during the Day 2 of the Draft Combine over the weekend at the Paco Arena in Manila.
Capital1 yesterday announced that Alas Pilipinas women’s national volleyball team coach Jorge Souza de Brito will now call the shots for the Solar Spikers, with erstwhile strategist Gorayeb serving as consultant.
This year’s list of hopefuls is not lacking middle blockers with the likes of Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring from National University, UST’s Pia Abbu, AC Miner from Ateneo, FEU’s Jean Asis, UE’s Riza Nogales, Adamson’s May Nuique and Jen Villegas leading the pool.
Winnie Bedana from Perpetual, Lyceum’s Zonxi Dahab, Letran’s Angelique Ledesma, EAC’s Jamaica Villena and Ivy Lhyn Aquino from the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies are also out to prove their worth.
Galeries Tower will be picking second in the proceedings set on June 8, Sunday, at the Novotel Hotel Araneta City.
The Highrisers are in the hunt for a middle blocker as tactician Lerma Giron hinted that they are eyeing a player who has offensive and defensive talent in the middle.
“Siyempre gusto natin, primary role ng middle is kaya nga middle blocker, depensa, blockings. Mas gusto rin natin siyempre combination ng blockings tsaka offensive player,” Giron said.
Ditto with the Jerry Yee-mentored Zus Coffee Thunderbelles, who own the fifth pick.
In the inaugural Draft last year, the Thunderbelles hit the jackpot, picking 6-foot-2 Thea Gagate as the top overall pick. Gagate was hailed as the Rookie of the Year by the league and the PVL Press Corps.
“To be honest, middle (blocker ang hanap namin). Alam ninyo naman iyon, nabawasan kami ng middle. Pero iyon, middle, pero kung sino man iyong best available athlete na matira at No. 5, iyon agad ang kukunin namin,” Yee said.
“Preferably iyong nakakakilos, nakakahabol sa block, nakaka-bigay ng offense, so general naman iyon.”
