By MARK REY MONTEJO
It’s clear as day that a player who joins the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft can’t mock the rules of the draft or play for a team she wishes to be with other than the team that drafted her in the annual event.
That’s the case of Fil-American setter Alohi Robins-Hardy who had signifierd interest to suit up for Farm Fresh Foxies who own the third overall pick.
However, things might not go their way as No. 1 and 2 picks owners Capital1 Solar Spikers and Galeries Tower Hightowers could spoil her bid.
“Sa kanya kasi like going back to the rules of the draft, kapag rookie and you got drafted, for the next three years, hawak ng team ‘yong rights mo,” said PVL Commissioner Sherwin Malonzo during Tuesday’s PSA Forum which by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
“But kind of statement, I think her personal statement, and best to ask Farm Fresh directly, diba? And ‘yon nga in case she is drafted by another team and decides not to play, at least for the next three years, ‘di na talaga sya makakalaro rito,” he added. “That’s my assumption, it’s her decision at the end of the day.”
And if that happens, the 29-year-old Robins-Hardy disclosed that she would rather continue her career overseas than playing for other clubs aside from the Foxies.
According to the 6-foot-3 playmaker, who missed the two-day Draft Combine over the weekend, she signed a five-year contract with Farm Fresh, which the squad she almost played with but was halted by the PVL board, noting Robins-Hardy must go through the draft process.
“We will not allow that, she can’t choose that team she wants to play, she must go through the draft,” said PVL president Ricky Palou.
“There are sanctions, we haven’t discussed all the sanctions… once the team drafted you, you have to play for that team or you will not play at all,” he added.
