MANILA – Highly touted Premier Volleyball League (PVL) incoming rookies Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel impressed in their showings in the league’s first-ever Draft Combine.

On Day 1, Gagate, who is expected to be the league’s first-ever No.1 Draft pick which will be made by ZUS Coffee, led in physical metrics with a height of 189 cm and wingspan of 185 cm. She also topped the vertical jump with approach, achieving an impressive 317.0 cm.

Also standing out was her De La Salle University teammate as Coronel excelled with a top score of 27.78 inches in the standard vertical jump, securing second place in both the vertical jump with approach (316.0 cm) and standing broad jump (248.9 cm).

The two went on to complete one scrimmage on Day 2 earlier today but were eventually excused ‘due to the hectic National Team commitments’ of the Alas Pilipinas duo.

“Due to the hectic national team commitments leading up to the 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup, the PVL has decided to limit the involvement of Alas Pilipinas members Thea Gagate and Julia Coronel on the second day of the Rookie Draft Combine,” stated PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo.

Both Gagate and Coronel are expected to suit up for the Philippine women’s national volleyball team in the upcoming 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup which is set from July 4 to 7, and Meneses said that excusing them is a part of the PVL’s support for Alas.

“The PVL fully supports the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and the national women’s team program,” he emphasized.

The PVL Rookie Draft will be held on July 8 in Quezon City.