There is no denying that going pro has its, well, pros. But it also has its cons.
The recent PVL offseason was marked by a seeming trend of collegiate standouts foregoing their college eligibility to turn pro. This was particularly true for Trisha Tubu, who left the Adamson Lady Falcons after just one year to join the Farm Fresh Foxies.
And while there is nothing wrong with searching for greener pastures, PVL president Ricky Palou would much rather see the country’s young volleybelles finish college before jumping ship to the next level.
“Personally, I feel it’s important for our athletes to get their college degree,” Palou told journalist Dyan Castillejo on Sunday on Playitright TV. “They’re not gonna be playing volleyball all their life. They’ve got to be able to do something else when they stop playing. And I feel that getting a college degree is important.”
Palou makes a fair point. But, at the same time, circumstances leave some of these young standouts little choice but to go pro. Such is the case with Tubu. The same is true for Tubu’s teammate Kate Santiago, whose main consideration for transitioning to the pay-for-play ranks is to be able to provide for her family.
The PVL’s head honcho is not against it—at least not entirely. But he is not all-in with it as well. In fact, he is discouraging it.
“We’d like to take some steps to sort of curb the entry of college players coming to the PVL,” Palou said. “We’re not gonna restrict them, but we’ll put some rules and some guidelines that will make them think twice about joining the pro league.”
Palou, of course, has already promised a rookie draft in the future, so it is possible that strict eligibility rules and guidelines will be enforced should this plan push through.
(GM)