FORMER UST Golden Tigresses captain and libero Detdet Pepito is set to brighten the Capital1 Solar Spikers’ future after being selected second overall in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Draft on Wednesday, June 3, at the Novotel in Quezon City.
The two-time UAAP Best Libero will join forces with childhood friend-turned-rival Bella Belen, who just came off a Rookie of the Year award-winning debut campaign.
Along with reuniting with former UST teammate Pia Abbu, Pepito arrives as another key piece to strengthen the retooled Capital1 squad, which recently acquired All-Filipino Conference MVP Vanie Gandler and On Tour MVP Erika Santos from the disbanded Cignal Super Spikers.
“My jolliness, skills and leadership is something that I can help the team with,” she said after getting drafted.
“So [Bella], walang lalapag na bola,” she added during a friendly banter with Belen.
(So Bella, we won’t let the ball drop.)
Meanwhile, Belen expressed her joy of getting to team up with Pepito for the first time since their elementary days, this time in the professional stage.
“It’s been a really long time since I’ve been with her inside the court and it won’t be as tough for us anymore because Detdet is really hard to play against,” she said.
The 5-foot-2 libero began her Thomasian journey in 2015 and went on to collect several individual recognitions, including the Best Receiver award in Season 78 and four consecutive Best Libero prizes in high school.
In 2023, Pepito earned a spot in the seniors’ squad, where she became a key defensive anchor for the Tigresses during their consistent Final Four appearances. Despite missing out on the title, she still claimed back-to-back Best Libero awards in Seasons 85 and 86.
The 23-year-old graduated with a Bachelor of Elementary Education degree from the UST College of Education last June 2025.
Meanwhile, fellow Tigress alumna Jonna Perdido was picked sixth by the Farm Fresh Foxies, reuniting with former UST head coach Emilio “Kungfu” Reyes, who now serves as an assistant coach.
The lefty spiker also gets to share the court with former Tigresses teammate Imee Hernandez.
Straight from her Davao grassroots, Perdido stormed the collegiate scene in Season 84 together with Pepito. She had an impactful early Tigresses run before suffering an ACL injury in 2024, which forced Perdido to sit out for the whole Season 87.
Finishing college with a Bachelor of Science in Fitness and Sports Management degree, Perdido returned in Season 88 and has suited up in her fourth year of eligibility before turning pro.
Fellow spiker Xyza Gula, however, was undrafted and will seek future PVL opportunities as a free agent. She recently graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship from the UST College of Commerce.
Former NU veteran and setter Camilla Lamina was the top pick for this year’s draft, as she headed to the Galeries Tower Highrisers, teaming up with UST legend Aiza Maizo-Pontillas and former DLSU Lady Spiker Julia Coronel.
Days before the draft, projected top picks Alyssa Solomon of NU and Niña Ytang of UP withdrew their draft bid to pursue future commitments within Alas Pilipinas. F
