After being selected 10th overall by Galeries Tower in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft, former Far Eastern University middle blocker Ann Asis is ready to bring her poise and relentless net defense to the professional ranks.

Joining a Highrisers squad that already features a strong middle blocker rotation in former Lady Tamaraw teammate Jean Asis and Roselle Baliton, Ann is focused on making an immediate impact for a Galeries side eager to break through in a highly competitive nine-team field.

Aside from reuniting with her former running mate from FEU, Asis is also looking forward to learning from Jean — the second overall pick in the 2025 PVL Draft — and veteran middle blocker Roselle Baliton.

“Sobrang excited po, especially kay Jean kasi teammates kami sa FEU and talagang sister-sister kami. Talagang meron siya nung offense and ako naman sa defense sa blocking, yun yung parang tandem namin,” Asis told reporters last Wednesday evening at Novotel Manila in Cubao.

“Sobrang excited ako kay Ate Baliton na makasama siya sa court kasi magaling siyang mag-block and I think sobrang laki pa ng matutunan ko sa kanya.”

For the 5-foot-10 middle blocker, hearing her name called by Galeries Tower marked the culmination of the leap of faith she took in entering the professional ranks, especially after impressing the Highrisers during multiple tryout sessions.

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Those standout tryouts proved crucial for the pride of Real, Quezon. Despite limited playing time with the Lady Tamaraws due to the emergence of players like Jaz Ellarina and Cla Loresco, Asis defied the odds to become one of just 11 players selected from a pool of 38 aspirants.

“Sobrang grateful ko po na ako yung pinili nila and nakita nila talaga yung potential kasi nung nakitraining ako sa kanila talagang sila yung unang team na pinuntahan ko and talagang binigay ko lang lahat kasi nothing to lose naman talaga yung pagsali ko dito sa PVL and sobrang saya kasi nagtiwala sila sa akin,” Asis said.

“Nasa isip ko lang na kung sinuman yung team na pipili sa akin, sabi ko talaga, ipapangako ko na ibibigay ko lahat ng kaya kong ibigay sa kanila. And grateful ako na Galeries yung pumili sa akin,” she added.

Although her playing time was limited during her stint with the Tina Salak-mentored FEU squad, Asis believes those years with the Lady Tamaraws were far from wasted.

Instead, she intends to use that experience to develop the grit and resilience needed to help fuel Galeries Tower’s push for immediate success, beginning with the upcoming PVL on Tour tournament.

“Excited naman po ako na kung ano man po yung maibibigay sa akin na role and kung ano yung skills and nakuha ko sa FEU na nakuha ko na pagiging resilient, disciplined, lahat — team player naman po ako so willing po ako na ibigay lahat ng yun sa Galeries ngayon,” she said.

The post Ann Asis excited for FEU reunion with Jean Asis in Galeries Tower rebuild appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Akari made the surprising decision to pass up the opportunity to pick fifth in the first round of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft, becoming the first team to skip a selection and effectively ending its participation in the selection process last Wednesday night.

The decision marked a rare occurrence in the young history of the PVL Draft, as it became the first time a team elected to pass on a first-round pick since the league introduced the rookie draft two years ago.

Chargers assistant coach Eddieson Orcullo, who represented the team alongside several players during the draft, revealed that Akari had identified two prospects as potential targets.

According to Tiebreaker Times sources, those two were Tin Ubaldo, who was picked third by Choco Mucho, and Nicole Ong, who eventually landed with Farm Fresh.

However, both players were taken before Akari’s turn at sixth overall, prompting management to pass on the pick rather than select a player who did not fit its needs.

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“Actually, meron. May first and second (options). Kaso dumating lang sa point na hindi namin nakuha ‘yung dalawa, so siguro ‘yung dalawa na ‘yun talaga ang kailangan ng team namin,” said Orcullo.

“Pero dahil nga napunta dun sa naunang teams na mag-select, kaya we decided to pass na rin. Yung management, si Coach Tina (Salak), yung coaches talagang nag-usap naman kami regarding dun. So far, okay naman kami sa result,” he added.

The Chargers are now expected to lean on and maximize their current roster heading into the upcoming season, banking on continuity and internal development as they open their campaign in the PVL On Tour later this month.

“Ngayon, so far kung ano ‘yung meron kaming lineup sa roster namin, I think magiging maganda naman ‘yung takbo namin,” he said.

“Titingnan natin, siyempre, with the help of the players na talagang nandiyan naka-support sa lahat ng ginagawa natin.”

The post Akari left empty-handed as Nicole Ong, Tin Ubaldo come off draft board before Chargers’ turn appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

A night of realized dreams for the University of Santo Tomas women’s volleyball program also came with a bittersweet turn at the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft.

Former Golden Tigresses captain and two-time UAAP Best Libero Detdet Pepito was selected second overall by Capital1, while versatile outside hitter Jonna Perdido was picked sixth overall by Farm Fresh, a team that features UST women’s and girls’ volleyball program director Kungfu Reyes as an assistant coach.

However, their ever-reliable teammate Xyza Gula went undrafted, as only 11 of the 38 hopefuls heard their names called on Wednesday evening at Novotel Manila in Cubao.

Despite the unexpected outcome for the hard-hitting spiker from Tacloban, Pepito remains confident that Gula’s undeniable bravery and grit will eventually earn her a spot in the professional ranks.

“Well, huwag mawalan ng pag-asa, of course. Nandito lang kaming mga ates niya to support her,” Pepito told Tiebreaker Times.

“For sure, may makukuha at makukuha na teams sa kanya at hopefully, kung saanman na team siya magpunta, give your best at again, nandito lang kami.”

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The bond and sisterhood forged in España runs deep, and Pepito was quick to remind Gula of how she overcame every obstacle thrown her way during her four-year run with UST.

The 5-foot-4 athletic hitter joined the Golden Tigresses in Season 85 and delivered her best performance in Season 86, when UST made a breakthrough runner-up finish. She provided valuable spark off the bench, finishing with 78 points on 71 attacks and seven aces.

Her biggest test, however, came in Season 87 when she was forced to sit out due to a displaced tailbone fracture. She returned a year later in Season 88 to help power UST to a bronze-medal finish in a highly competitive UAAP women’s volleyball season.

“Try lang nang try. Gusto kong sabihin na proud ako palagi. Proud ako sayo, Xyza, sa pinerform mo sa UAAP, sa tapang mo, at sa pinagsamahan natin. Sobrang proud ako, nandito lang kami ni Ate Jonna [Perdido] mo para sa’yo,” Pepito shared.

Now set to enter a stacked free agency pool that includes other top UAAP talents such as UP’s Joan Monares and Heart Magsambol, Ateneo’s Taks Fujimoto, and the UE duo of Kayce Balingit and Tin Ecalla, Pepito is confident that Gula’s fearless approach will eventually catch the attention of a PVL team in need of firepower.

“Of course ,yung iconic line nga ni Coach Kungfu na ‘Dalhin mo buong Tacloban sa bawat palo mo’. Ganon katapang yung bata na yon,” she shared.

“Ang laki ng tiwala ko sa kanya na mapupunta siya sa talagang mas kailangan siya ng team.”

The post Detdet Pepito convinced Xyza Gula’s PVL opportunity will still come appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.