MANILA, Philippines —With her faith and optimism running deep, Pia Abbu was undeterred when her name wasn’t called among the first 12 players called on to the stage during the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft Night.

She may have been full of uncertainty, but Abbu patiently waited until her chance finally came–in the form of the 14th pick of the talent-rich 57-woman Draft class.

“My optimism really helped me in a big way because I was so nervous, to be honest,” Abbu told Inquirer Sports in Filipino. “I just kept thinking, whatever God has planned for me, He’ll give it to me if it’s really meant for me.”

HIGHLIGHTS: 2025 PVL Rookie Draft

Despite the palpable jitters among the hopefuls, the middle blocker spent time talking to her UAAP batchmates and newfound friends–something so in character for Abbu as ever the optimistic player out of University of Santo Tomas.

Then after the 13 draftees were called one of the most memorable moments of Abbu’s young career. Her name blared inside the ballroom from the lips of PVL Control Committee Chairman Sherwin Malonzo.

She stood up from the draftees’ holding room and walked to to the main ballroom armed with the smile that UST fans have come to be familiar with,  dazzling in her Pinterest-inspired black dress as she approached the stage and joined Capital1 owners, Milka and Mandy Romero.

And this moment marks the official new chapter of her volleyball career.

Being drafted in the most stacked PVL Draft Class meant everything for Abbu–a culmination of her grit and optimism that brought her dreams within her graps.

“You really can’t tell with this year’s draft, everyone has a high-level skill and experience, so getting drafted won’t be easy. That’s why I’m just so happy that Capital1 chose me,” Abbu said.

Abbu’s leap of faith

Pia Abbu is one of the UST Golden Tigresses’ old reliables for the past few seasons. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Exactly a month before the draft, the Tigresses’ captain Detdet Pepito along Jonna Perdido decided to stay in the UAAP for one more year. But unlike her batchmates, Abbu decided to take the plunge and test her skills elsewhere.

Abbu, one of the Tigresses’ old reliables, bid farewell to the school she called home since high school armed with back-to-back podium finishes–a bronze medal in UAAP Season 87 and Finals appearance the year before.

READ: UAAP: Unsung veteran Pia Abbu fuels UST to win vs Adamson

“Aside from I’m graduating, I really wanted to step out of my comfort zone and give others a chance, especially my teammates who are moving up to the college level. And for those staying, I know they’re more than capable of competing in the UAAP in the upcoming seasons,” Abbu said.

Detdet Pepito and Pia Abbu after their #UAAPSeason87 campaign ends with a bronze. @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/5iGd0AF0rF

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 3, 2025

It was a big step for the pride of Cagayan De Oro, who played taekwondo in Grade 3 and made the switch to the sport that would eventually make up her biggest dreams–volleyball.

She had her grandmother to thank. Abbu remembers her grandmother bringing her to company tournaments and giving her the chance to take up the sport as well. This opened an opportunity for her to join UST in High School when coach KungFu Reyes discovered her in regional and national meets.

“This is for my family. They’ve always been super supportive in the UAAP, they never missed a game. And I’m sure if I get drafted, they’ll be really proud of me because they’ve followed my volleyball journey closely, from high school all the way to college,” she said.

“Every athlete wants to reach the highest level, and in volleyball, that’s the PVL. It’s such a big opportunity for me, and if I’m given the chance, I definitely won’t waste it or take it for granted.”

The road of the PVL

Pia Abbu was among the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft hopefuls who hoped to catch the attention of coaches and scouts during the two-day combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The official road to the pros began in the two-day Draft Combine a week before the Draft Night, but for the 22-year-old Pia Abbu, it started way before that.

Sharing the court with her fellow hopefuls, Abbu tried to showcase everything she had picked up as a longtime player of one of the famed volleyball programs in the UAAP, where she built the foundation that would eventually help her land in the pros.

“I’m very open to learning—whatever I can pick up from my coaches and especially from my veteran teammates who’ve been in the league for a long time. I’m ready to embrace whatever role they give me. I also hope to bring the positivity and leadership I developed from my time at UST,” said Abbu.

“When it comes to experience, almost everyone here has it. But for me, it’s the grit and determination I bring. I don’t give up easily, and I’m ready to give everything I’ve got for the team, whatever they need from me.”

Pia Abbu was among the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft hopefuls who hoped to catch the attention of coaches and scouts during the two-day combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

At this time, though, it wasn’t just the PVL that was on her mind– Abbu was juggling her graduation and Rookie Draft duties as she dutifully went through drills, anthropometric measurements, medical tests, then scrimmages in front of scouts, coaches, and executives on Day 2.

True to the grind, she even had to rush her way to UST for the baccalaureate mass for graduating class – twice – after the original schedule of the ceremony that coincided with the first day of the combine was postponed and rescheduled the day after.

After showing what she’s capable of in front of the teams, Abbu returned to the bleachers of Paco Arena with the patented smile on her face, relishing the experience of competing and bonding with her fellow draftees.

She even shared the court with three-time MVP Bella Belen, who would turn out to be her future teammate as Capital1’s No.1 overall pick.

“Not just for me, but for everyone, I’m sure we all gave our best. Some of us already knew each other but never really talked, so this was a great way to build friendships. We even made friends with people we hadn’t met before,” Abbu said.

“It was a fun experience. In the UAAP, we used to face each other as opponents, but now we had the chance to play together. We got to see each other’s strengths and weaknesses, how we adjusted, and how we communicated. It was really nice to finally feel what it’s like to be teammates, even just for this combine.”

Optimism over uncertainty

The Draft Combine was simply the start of a stretch of uncertainty, not just for Pia Abbu but for all the draft hopefuls, with the Draft Night–a day which could make or break their dreams–a week away.

But true to her character, Abbu simply focused on things she had control over–like making sure she was in the best shape for all the waiting teams while waiting for D-Day.

Bella Belen grouped with Pia Abbu and May Roque. #PVLDraft2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/DV1UWFVwHm

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 31, 2025

“I think it’s not just me, others feel that fear, too. But I choose to focus on the positive side. Whatever God’s plan is for me, I believe there’s a purpose behind whatever the result will be in the upcoming draft ceremony,” said Abbu. “I’m just keeping a positive mindset as I take on this new venture, hoping it leads me into the pros.”

That’s not to say that Abbu hasn’t thought of a career outside of volleyball. She admitted that being a Flight Attendant could be a backup plan for the Tourism graduate in case her dreams centered on the sport she loved didn’t pan out.

But there was only a sliver of doubt in Abbu’s mind that volleyball would not take her where she wanted to be. She was determined to play for any team that would help her realize her dream, regardless of the number she fell on.

“To be honest, it doesn’t really matter if it’s the first or second round. What’s important is getting drafted by a team that sees me as a good fit for their system. For me, just being drafted into the PVL is already a huge opportunity and privilege,” Abbu said.

Dream big, shine bright

Realizing her dream: Pia Abbu stands with Capital1 owners after being drafted the 14th overall pick by the Solar Spikers. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Once clouded with uncertainty, Pia Abbu’s path cleared on Draft Night when the Solar Spikers selected her to be part of their new era, led by first overall pick and Alas Pilipinas star Belen.

Abbu joins a fast-rising young team that made a breakthrough quarterfinals appearance behind Russian import Marina Tushova in the Reinforced Conference—just six months after joining the PVL.

The former UST stalwart vowed to give her all to repay the trust of Capital1, which will now be handled by national team head coach Jorge Souza de Brito.

“I’m so happy and super grateful to Capital1 for trusting me with this opportunity. I’ll definitely give my best and everything I can offer to the team,” she said.

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“I’m really looking forward to giving my all—whatever the team needs from me, whatever I can contribute, I’ll be ready for it.”

“Coach Jorge is the national team coach, so I’m excited to see what kind of system he runs. I’ve only experienced one system here in Manila with UST, so I’m really looking forward to trying something new.”

Three days after the draft, Abbu marched in her graduation rites at UST, completing a double celebration—closing her chapter as a student-athlete and beginning her journey as a PVL player.

“It’s such a huge gift and the perfect start to this new chapter,” she said.