Phillips is the lone Filipino import who will join the South Korean league.
It’s official. MJ Phillips is headed to South Korea.
The two-time PVL Best Middle Blocker was drafted fifth overall by the Gwangju AI Peppers of the Korean V-League in the 2023 Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) Asian Quota Draft.
“Maraming salamat for picking me. Thank you, Peppers family,” Phillips said after being drafted. “I’m just very excited. This has been my dream since I was a little girl, so I’m just very excited to start the season.”
The six other players selected in the draft were mostly from Indonesia and Thailand.
Phillips is one of five PVL players who received the invitation and took part in applying for the Asian Quota slots in the V-League.
The other players are Creamline Cool Smashers’ Jia De Guzman, Akari Chargers' Dindin Santiago-Manabat, Chery Tiggo Crossovers' Mylene Paat, and F2 Logistics Cargo Movers' Majoy Baron and Iris Tolenada.
Over on Twitter, the beaming Tolenada congratulated Phillips.
"You guys have absolutely no idea how far this amazing woman has come along in her journey," said Tolenada. "I love seeing my people win."
The Petro Gazz Angels star joins the list of Filipino volleyball players who have played abroad, which includes Ageo Medics’ Jaja Santiago and Win Streak’s Bryan Bagunas.
The schedule of the V-League has yet to be made final, but it is likely that Phillips will partially or fully miss the next two conferences of the ongoing PVL season.
While this will definitely be a big loss for Petro Gazz, Phillips donning the flag in SoKor is a bigger win for Philippine volleyball.