Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
Far from a being household name in the Philippines, Fil-Am setter and Alas Pilipinas invitee Tia Andaya still makes a strong case for a first-round selection in the 2025 PVL rookie draft with strong combine results and a wealth of international experience
MANILA, Philippines – Popular names are being floated about ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 PVL rookie draft on Sunday, June 8, at Novotel Manila in Quezon City.
There is the consensus top overall pick Bella Belen, fellow former UAAP standouts like Lyann de Guzman, AC Miner, Riza Nogales, Alleiah Malaluan, and NCAA gems like former MVP Mycah Go, Von Dimaculangan, and Winnie Bedaña, among a handful of other prospects.
Among the household names of Philippine collegiate volleyball, one of the draft’s best and definitely most intriguing selections hid in plain sight in the two-day pre-draft combine: Fil-Am setter Tia Andaya.
At just 25 years old and still a few years removed from entering her prime, the 5-foot-8 playmaker turned heads in the 50-plus-woman strong scouting showcase at Manila’s Paco Arena, topping the charts in two out of five major tests: the countermovement jump (294 centimeters) and approach jump (307 cm).
Past the raw numbers, however, the evidence of high intrigue first appeared when Andaya was selected in the 33-woman wish list of the Alas Pilipinas national team, making her one of only three 2025 draftees to earn that distinction aside from Belen and Malaluan.
No expectations, no pressure
Despite what is shaping up to be an early entry for her name on the draft board come Sunday night, Andaya is taking all the new experiences in stride without pressure.
“I’m not sure about my expectations, to be honest. I think this is a really new experience for me,” the former Gonzaga University and Central Washington University standout told reporters in the combine.
“I’m super excited to see what it’s all about, but from playing with the national team and the girls that I’ve met here, the level is super good. I’m excited to see what the Philippines has to offer.”
At a young age, the PVL will already be the home of Andaya’s third club team, after having brief European stints with SK Tirana in Albania and CSM Lugoj in Romania in the last three years.
What Andaya lacks in name recall in the Philippines, she has already made up for with a wealth of experience, which will certainly be appreciated by all teams in need of a playmaking boost.
The Akari Chargers, in particular, are picking 10th and are left with just one setter in Kamille Cal following the shocking early retirement of captain Michelle Cobb, who has transitioned to new team roles of setting coach and assistant team manager.
Should Andaya go earlier, the PLDT High Speed Hitters at ninth and Nxled Chameleons at fourth are long-shot, yet plausible landing spots for the enigmatic setter.
Regardless of destination, Andaya is certainly a prospect worth burning an early pick for. – Rappler.com
