Already a top prospect after bidding farewell to National University last year, Alyssa Solomon is set to enter the Premier Volleyball League not only as a champion player, but also as one enriched by international experience.

Solomon played for the Osaka Marvelous in the Japan SV.League during the 2025-26 season, further honing her skills in one of the world’s top volleyball countries.

The 24-year-old opposite spiker maximized her stint with Osaka, tallying 147 points in 30 games while helping the team secure a silver-medal finish in Japan’s top-level competition.

Those experiences are what Solomon hopes to bring to the lucky team that will select her in the 2026 PVL Draft on June 3.

“Ibibigay ko lang talaga kung ano ‘yung meron na natutunan ko from Japan. All out lang talaga sa daily and sa game. ‘Yun lang po,” said Solomon on Thursday during Day 1 of the Draft Combine held at the Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong.

“Ay, sobrang daming learnings. Kung paano talaga magtrabaho ‘yung mga Japanese, makikita mo kung paano nila ihagis ‘yung katawan nila sa floor, hindi talaga nila hinahayaan na bumagsak ‘yung bola,” she continued.

“Dahil doon parang na-inspire ako na kaya ko rin naman siguro ‘yun. More on hard work talaga yung masaya ko na experience doon.”

(C) PVL Images

Because of her no-nonsense experience in Japan, coupled with her towering presence and championship pedigree in the UAAP, Solomon is widely viewed as the consensus top overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Galeries Tower won the first overall pick during last Monday’s Draft Lottery, followed by Capital1, Choco Mucho, and ZUS Coffee in that order.

Akari will pick fifth, followed by Nxled, Farm Fresh, PLDT, and Creamline. The second-round order will be based on the teams’ weighted standings from last season.

Solomon is embracing the challenge of taking on a major role in a rebuilding team, with the Highrisers expected to strongly consider her as the cornerstone of their franchise.

“For me, parang wala pa rin talagang expectation sa anong mangyayari. So, siguro if ever na mapunta ako sa team, ibibigay ko lang talaga kung ano ‘yung natutunan ko sa Japan. And siguro matutulungan kami, and mag-enjoy lang,” said Solomon.

“Actually, mas masayang manalo kapag nasa ganoon kang posisyon, kasi alam mong pinaghihirapan ng team. So, ayun, excited ako na mangyari siguro ‘yun, if ever.”

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In her 11 years with National University, Camilla Lamina transformed from a young girl simply doing what she loved into one of the best setters in the country.

But the 5-foot-7 playmaker is ready to leave all her accolades behind as she embarks on a fresh start in the Premier Volleyball League — prepared to work her way from the bottom back to the top.

“Tingin ko po, sobrang taas pa po (ng kaya kong maabot) kasi wala pa po akong napapatunayan dito sa pro eh,” said Lamina, who is ready to embrace the role of a rookie once again.

“For myself naman po, yun po yung goal ko na may mapatunayan na naman po sa sarili ko na ay, kaya ko pala ulit magiging ganon, kung ano man po yung pangarap ko,” she shared during Day 1 of the PVL Draft Combine on Thursday at Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong.

(C) PVL Images

Having played for one of the UAAP’s most dominant programs from her high school days with NU Nazareth School to her collegiate stint with the Lady Bulldogs, Lamina understands that the path will be even tougher in the professional ranks.

This is especially true as she is regarded as one of the top aspirants in the PVL Draft set on June 3 at Novotel Manila Araneta City.

The first four picks in the draft belong to Galeries Tower, Capital1, Choco Mucho, and ZUS Coffee — teams that are still trying to establish consistency and find their footing in the PVL.

“Siguro po, ine-expect ko po na talaga na lahat dito po sa pro league is very challenging, and especially grabe po yung pressure,” said Lamina.

“Pero siyempre po, siguro magfo-focus lang ako sa present. And I will give my 100 percent effort talaga kung hanggang saan po yung kaya ko po para ma-offer ko sa kanila.”

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A decorated libero in the UAAP, Detdet Pepito is ready to prove herself in the Premier Volleyball League.

Pepito, a two-time Best Libero in the collegiate ranks and a four-time awardee in the high school division, is excited to share the floor with the PVL’s best floor defenders.

Among the league’s well-known liberos are PLDT’s Kath Arado and the Choco Mucho duo of Thang Ponce and Dawn Catindig.

“Super excited ko kasi yun nga noon pinapanood ko lang sila, ngayon pa kayang makakalaban ko sila,” said the UST product on Thursday during Day 1 of the PVL Draft Combine at the Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong.

“I think better kasi mas makikita ko kung paano sila gumalaw face to face. I think yung learnings sa adjustment ganon kung paano sila mag-handle ng pressure talagang kailangan kong baunin para mag-improve,” she added.

(C) PVL Images

A known vocal leader during her stint with the Golden Tigresses, Pepito vowed to bring the same qualities that made her one of the most beloved figures at UST in recent years.

She is among a small group of liberos in the draft pool, alongside University of the Philippines’ Jum Gayo and Irah Jaboneta, as well as Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s Lara Mae Silva, among others.

“Siguro unang una po yung leadership ko, of course, and yung palagi ko talagang binibigay yung 101 percent ko during training pa lang po and syempre sa laro,” Pepito shared.

The PVL Draft will be held on June 3 at the Novotel Manila Araneta City, with Galeries Tower holding the all-important top overall pick.

Capital1 will select second, followed by Choco Mucho, ZUS Coffee, Akari, Nxled, Farm Fresh, PLDT, and Creamline in that order.

Pepito also vowed not to change the personality that often helps lift her team’s morale from down moments to a more joyful and energized squad.

“Ganon lang, ganon ko po kasi napapakita yung leadership ko and mas nagiging magaan po yung galaw ko kapag nagiging ako, yung sarili ko na makulit, doon ako nagiging mas effective.”

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