MANILA: De La Salle University middle blocker Thea Gagate, setter Julia Coronel, outside hitter Maicah Larroza and middle blocker Leila Cruz lead the 47-player inaugural rookie draft of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) on July 8. Fifty applicants met the June 12 deadline, but the list was trimmed to 47 after careful deliberation and screening, the PVL announced on Saturday. Included in the talented pool ready to make their mark on the professional stage are opposite spiker Pierre Abellana of UAAP runner-up University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University outside hitters Lucille Almonte and Ishie Lalongisip; opposite spiker AA Adolfo; setters Nikka Yandoc and Angge Alcantara; libero Karen Verdeflor; and middle blocker Sharya Ancheta. Also joining the draft are University of the Philippines outside hitters Abi Goc and Jewel Encarnacion, and opposite spiker Stephanie Bustrillo; University of the East opposite spiker Dara Nieva, and liberos Jenina Zeta and Dea Villamor; Ateneo de Manila University libero Ro ma Mae Doromal; and United States-based Filipinos Aleiah Torres of Brock University and Nathalie Ramacula of Red River College Polytechnic. Other aspirants are Letran's Daisy Melendres and Bay Anne de Leon; Arellano's Dodee Batindaan, Robbie Mae Matawaran, Lorraine Pecana, Donnalyn Paralejas, and Charmina Dino; Emilio Aguinaldo College's Catherine Almazan; Lyceum's Camille Belaro; San Beda's Maxinne Tayag and Lalaine Arizapa; San Sebastian's Jewelle Bermillo; and Perpetual Help's Razel Aldea and Sandra Dayao. The draft also includes Lovely Zapf and Lian Macasiray (La Salle-Dasmariñas), Andrea Jardio (Lyceum-Alabang), Jamie Solina (Marinduque State), Danya Casino (Trinity) and Danivah Aying (University of San Jose-Recoletos). Completing the list are former La Salle training pool players Caroline Santos, Ysabela Bakabak, and Giliana Torres, former UST Tigress Mary Grace Vernaiz, former National U Lady Bulldog CJ Evangelista and former UE Lady Warrior Remcel Santos. The draft lottery to determine the order o f picking among the 9th to 12th placers (Farm Fresh, Galeries Tower Capital1 and Zus Coffee, formerly Strong Group Athletics) in the All-Filipino Conference will be on June 24, to be aired live over 'The Starting Lineup' which airs on RPTV and Pilipinas Live! The next to choose from the draft are Nxled (5th), Akari (6th), Cignal (7th), PLDT (8th), Chery Tiggo (9th), Petro Gazz (10th), Choco Mucho (11th), and All-Filipino champion Creamline (12th). A Draft Combine will follow on June 25 and 26 at Gameville Ballpark in Mandaluyong to include free agents. Along with the rookies, they will undergo interviews, physical measurements, medical evaluation, skills assessments and scrimmages. Source: Philippines News Agency