Galeries Tower faces tough call with consensus top pick Solomon
With her impressive résumé that includes championships in the UAAP and, most recently, an import stint in the Japan SV.League, Alyssa Solomon has been the consensus top overall pick in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft.
Still, Galeries Tower — the team that lucked out in the first pick after winning the Draft Lottery last Monday — remains open to many possibilities with the privilege of selecting from the entire 42 applicants.
This, especially with Solomon still weighing her options, saying on Thursday during Day 1 of the Draft Combine at the Gameville Ballpark: “‘Di pa naman firm ‘yung decision pero we’ll see. Thankful pa rin ako na nandito ako. Nakakapagpa-draft ako.”
Solomon was absent on Day 2 of the Combine, where the aspirants figured in scrimmages.
“Siyempre, kahit sinong team doon nakatingin eh (kay Alyssa Solomon), kahit sino. So sabi nga, paunahan na lang kung sinong makarating, pero hindi nawawala yung option na siya talaga yung number one,” said Highrisers head coach Clarence Esteban on Friday.
“Pero siyempre tinitingnan pa rin namin kung talagang magfi-fit, kung sa position ba… or magsasayang lang kami ng players sa bandang huli, baka napuno naman yung lineup namin doon. Per position kasi yung hinahanap namin, so medyo until now talagang undecided kami kung sino yung talagang kukunin namin,” he added.
(C) PVL Images
Galeries Tower was coming off a complete rebuild to begin 2026, only retaining four players from the 2025 roster in Julia Coronel, Jean Asis, Roselle Baliton, and Winnie Bedaña before restructuring with free agency signings.
The Highrisers did not end up empty-handed in the 2026 All-Filipino Conference despite the limited preparation, earning two wins.
But with the opportunity to draft a game-changer and a franchise cornerstone, Galeries will look to hasten its development into a contender in the league organized by Sports Vision.
“Until now, nag-a-ano pa rin kami ng mga coaches, ng management kung sino talaga yung kailangan namin. Actually, marami talagang kailangan yung team namin this season,” said Esteban.
“Syempre hindi pa rin nawawala yung first pick kung sino ang nandiyan, kailangan namin ng tagapuntos, kailangan namin ng taga depensa so ang ano lang namin doon kung sino ang mapagusapan na talagang kakailanganin ng team namin, yun ang kukunin namin,” he continued.
The Highrisers are also prepared if Solomon withdraws from the draft. The 42 draft hopefuls have until June 1 to pull out their name.
“Syempre kasama yun na kung hindi kukunin ito, sino ba yung next namin. Siyempre nakaplano lahat ’yon. Hindi naman tayo pupunta sa ganito na hindi tayo nakaplano kung ano yung dapat mangyari.”
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