Capital1 selects Leila Cruz as the second overall pick of the first-ever PVL Rookie Draft at Novotel Manila Araneta City on July 8, 2024. PVL Media Group
MANILA – De La Salle University product Leila Cruz hopes to "bring justice" as she was picked second overall by Capital1 in the inaugural Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft Monday at Novotel Manila Araneta City.
"I’ll try my best talaga to bring justice doon sa Top 2 pick na binigay nila to me, and I will do everything na makakaya ko para mabigyan ng better finish this season yung Capital1," Cruz told reporters.
"Super grateful po and kind of shocked actually but yeah, thank you so much to Capital1 kasi tinrust nila ako and I’m so excited to play with you guys," the Lady Spiker went on as she expressed gratitude to her new management.
Cruz, who did not play during UAAP Season 86 due to her ACL injury, was still the first option of the rebuilding Capital1 team in the Rookie Draft.
Now fully recovered, the 6-foot-1 opposite spiker opens a new chapter in her volleyball career as she transitions from coach Ramil de Jesus' system to coach Roger Gorayeb's.
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Cruz expressed excitement as she will have the privilege to undergo Gorayeb's tutelage.
"Super nakakatuwa na ma-handle nilang dalawa kasi we all know naman na parehas silang talagang veteran sa larangan ng volleyball," Cruz said of Gorayeb and de Jesus.
Drafted alongside her is Ateneo de Manila University's Roma Mae Doromal, who was picked at 14th overall, and Gilliana Torres at 20th.
Cruz, Doromal, and Torres will be bolstering the Solar Spikers, who look to surpass their 11th-place finish last All-Filipino Conference.
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