MANILA, Philippines — Proving that a draft-night snub is not the end of a professional journey, a collegiate volleyball standout has successfully found a back-door route into the big leagues. The undrafted Joan Monares has officially been signed by the reigning champion PLDT High Speed Hitters as a rookie free agent.
The former University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons team captain secures her roster spot just days after being left unselected during the highly competitive 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft.
Monares entered the draft pool alongside heavy regional talent but found herself among the 27 draft hopefuls who went unselected due to tight roster limits across the league. However, her professional ambitions quickly shifted from disappointment to an immediate tryout call:
[ THE JOAN MONARES FREE AGENCY MATRIX ]
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[ THE RECRUITMENT RECOVERY ] [ THE ROSTER ARC REBOOT ]
• **The Post-Draft Lifeline:** Having missed PLDT's initial workouts • **The Final Recruitment Piece:** PLDT welcomed the outside
prior to the Draft Combine, Monares was quickly invited to join • hitter warmly on social media: *“Joan’s volleyball story arc
the High Speed Hitters' training sessions right after draft night.• continues... The outside hitter from UP becomes the final piece
• **Proving Fit Up Close:** Head coach Rald Ricafort utilized the • of PLDT’s recruitment before the start of the 2026–2027 season!”*
tryouts to evaluate her potential as a vital depth piece. •
Monares’ path to the PVL was heavily complicated by physical setbacks during her final collegiate run, making her signing a major redemption story for the young open spiker:
[ PLDT HIGH SPEED HITTERS SEASON CALIBRATION ] │ ▼[ The UAAP Setback ] ──► Monares saw limited minutes during **UAAP Season 88** after battling a persistent back injury that restricted her offensive production for the Fighting Maroons. │ ▼[ The Solo Draft Pick ] ──► PLDT took a conservative approach on draft night, selecting only one player in the first round: setter **Fianne Ariola** from the Perpetual Help Lady Altas at 7th overall. │ ▼[ The Offseason Shuffles ]──► Monares, along with new middle blocker **Winnie Bedaña** (acquired from Galeries Tower), will help fill positions left vacant by departing veterans Anj Legacion and Zen Perolino.
Coach Ricafort noted that signing Monares provides a massive physical cushion for the High Speed Hitters, who are currently focusing on roster rotation and depth while several core players recover from offseason injuries.
Monares will get an immediate opportunity to showcase her skills and secure a permanent role under Ricafort’s system next month, as the High Speed Hitters prepare to defend their crown when the PVL on Tour officially kicks off its regional matches.