Used to getting good grades, ex-Tigresses skipper impresses in PVL Draft Combine

PHOTO: PVL IMAGES, PIERRE ABELLANA | FACEBOOK

UST ace spiker-turned-Premier Volleyball League (PVL) draft aspirant Pierre Abellana is living proof that one could excel BOTH as a student AND as an athlete.

Hailing from Central Visayas, the now-22-year-old finished her degree in Fitness and Sports Management as magna cum laude and was duly recognized by the UAAP as one of Season 86’s athlete-scholars.

España’s 5-foot-5 outside hitter began her Growling Tigresses journey as a Season 84 reserve before making the final cut in both Seasons 85 and 86.

Although used sparingly in a stacked black and gold side, Abellana was among the team’s co-captains in a historic final campaign which saw UST record its best start to an elimination round at 8-0 before an eventual runner-up finish.

The secret to her success on and off the court, albeit easier said than done? Think stress-free.

“In that aspect, ‘yung mindset ko lang lagi is don’t stress too much and enjoy the process of being a student-athlete. By enjoying it, na-enjoy ko ‘yung pag-aaral at the same time ‘yung paglalaro, so sumusunod na ‘yung achievements,” said Abellana.

And Abellana continues to have that mindset when she participated in the league’s first-ever Draft Combine – even though she was just coming off a Japan trip with UST.

“If physical (condition), hindi naman (affected) kasi before kami nag-Japan, nagpe-prepare na rin ako and ‘yung S&C (strength and conditioning) din sa team is tinutulungan din ako,” she answered when asked about her preparations for what could be a life and career-changing couple of weeks for her.

Standout numbers

Even though she’s one of the more familiar names in the 47-player draft pool, Abellana made the most of her opportunity to impress in Day 1 of the Draft Combine.

The ex-Tigress ranked second overall in the 60m shuttle run (14.35 seconds), third in standing vertical jump (63.50 cm), joint-fourth in the one-minute push-up test (43 repetitions), seventh in standing broad jump (222 cm), eighth in modified agility T-test (6.50 seconds), and 11th in vertical jump with approach (299 cm).

Now, Abellana is hoping that her strong showing will more than make her case to hear her name called in the PVL Draft on July 8.

“Mahalaga din ‘yun kasi kahit hindi ko na-perform ‘yung pinakamaganda ko ngayon, siguro makikita pa rin ng coaches na kaya kong bawiin kasi physically I am fit naman,” she said.

“Super motivated ako ngayon kasi by this time, nasa akin na kung paano ko ilalabas ‘yung kakayahan ko. Lagi kong sinasabi na ibibigay ko lahat ko lalo na ‘yung effort sa pag-improve sa sarili ko and I’ll always do my best to help the team in any way possible.”