Capital1 Solar Spikers during the PVL All-Filipino Conference.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Capital1 sealed the top pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft after winning the lottery on Monday evening at TV Media Center.
Holding the second-highest probability of landing the No.1 pick with a 30 percent chance, the Solar Spikers were drawn over the Nxled Chameleons, who had a 40 percent chance.
READ: Bella Belen declares for PVL draft but keeps options open
And the top overall pick of the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft goes to Capital1 Solar Spikers.#PVL2025 pic.twitter.com/TAmGBq83Dm
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 26, 2025
Capital1 will draft the first overall pick on June 8 at Novotel, getting an opportunity to select the best player from the stacked draft class, led by three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen, who applied but is still keeping her options open.
“First of all, thank you, Michele (Gumabao),” said Capital1 team owner Milka Romero, after the 2024 PVL Invitational Conference MVP drew Capital1 during the lottery. “Of course, I’m so honored to be part of this draft. For us, this would help us improve. This is our second year and our second season. My sister (Mandy) and I are very happy because this gives new teams to equalize and get better along with the other teams.”
“In our second year here in the PVL, we were able now to get the first pick. It’s an exciting draft season because there are a lot of new players joining the PVL. We saw an exciting new generation of players from the UAAP,” she added.
Galeries Tower, which had only two balls in the lottery, secured the second overall pick.
Farm Fresh defied the odds to climb into the third overall slot, despite having just a 10-percent chance of landing a top-three pick and losing to Galeries in a tiebreaker conducted by the Games and Amusement Board.
In contrast, Nxled, who held the highest probability at 40 percent, slid down to the fourth pick but team manager Dzi Gervacio was still happy with the deep talent pool of this year’s draft.
The Solar Spikers finished with a 1-10 record in the 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference preliminary and went winless in the qualifying and play-in rounds.
Last year, coach Roger Gorayeb picked up the right pieces, drafting Leila Cruz as the second overall pick and getting a steal in the second round with libero Roma Mae Doromal.
READ: After rousing Finals, PVL shifts focus to Rookie Draft
The star rookies with Russian import Marina Tushova led the Solar Spikers to the franchise’s first-ever playoff appearance in the 2024 Reinforced Conference before falling short to Cignal in a knockout quarterfinal despite the league record of 50 points by Tushova.
Capital1 and the 11 other teams get to see the aspirants in the Draft Combine on May 30 and 31.
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ZUS Coffee, last year’s lottery winner, has the No.5 overall pick, followed by Cignal, Choco Mucho, and Chery Tiggo, who had a tiebreaker draw lots for the seventh and eighth picks, respectively.
PLDT is the ninth overall pick. Akari got the 10th pick over All-Filipino champion Petro Gazz (11th) after a tiebreaker, while Creamline will pick last.
