The PNVF is proposing priority draft rights for Alas Pilipinas in the PVL Rookie Draft to streamline national team preparation and reduce club conflicts.
The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) is exploring a proposal that would allow Alas Pilipinas to take part in the PVL Rookie Draft.
PNVF president Tony Liao said the proposal would give Alas Pilipinas head coach Tai Bundit first priority in selecting players from the draft pool ahead of PVL clubs, with no set limit on the number of prospects he may choose.
"Instead of the club teams making the first pick for this year's draft, it will be the national team," Liao said during the PNVF press conference. "Coach Tai will have the first pick, whether one, whether 12, whether 15."
Under the proposal, players selected by Bundit would be assigned directly to the Alas Pilipinas national team pool and would not immediately join PVL clubs.
Their monthly allowances would be covered by the PNVF, while the draftees would be required to commit to the national program for at least two years.
Liao said the move is intended to address recurring issues involving players who split time between club duties and national team commitments.
"In the past, the club pays the player, then the national team uses the player, and if the player gets injured, the club can no longer use her," Liao said. "We want to avoid those situations."
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The proposal also aims to allow the national team to train without interruption, particularly during periods when PVL conferences are ongoing.
"Sometimes the national team wants to train, but it's difficult because there’s an ongoing conference," Liao said. "If the players go straight to Alas, those issues will be removed."
Under the proposed setup, drafted players would transition directly from their universities into the Alas Women pool, with the PNVF retaining control over their development and availability.
"Nobody owns them—not the school, not the club," Liao said. "It will be the PNVF, so they can train year-round."
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Liao added that the PNVF is currently drafting letters to clubs and universities to secure clearances for members of the Alas Pilipinas pool who competed in last year's Southeast Asian Games, allowing them to join the national team for the upcoming AVC Women’s Cup and SEA V.League.
The proposal is still under discussion as stakeholders weigh its implications for the PVL draft and the national team program.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.