PVL set to finalize trade rules; rookie, draft pick deals banned
FILE–PVL Draft Aspirants during the 2025 Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The Premier Volleyball League (PVL) is set to finalize its trade rulebook within the year, opening the door for teams — except for sister squads — to negotiate and address roster needs.
PVL Control Committee Chairman Sherwin Malonzo revealed that allowing trades is part of their proposed regulations during his guesting with league president Ricky Palou in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday.
READ: No trades between PVL sister teams under new rules—Palou
“Once the details are finalized, it’s definitely happening this year,” Malonzo said in Filipino.
However, trades between sister teams will remain prohibited. Last year, Creamline and Choco Mucho, along with Akari and Nxled, moved players between each other.
Most importantly, the league won’t allow teams to trade their rookies and draft picks.
“Rookies can’t be traded yet, but we’ve already introduced the idea of trading to the teams,” Malonzo explained. “When it comes to trading rookies, they need to stay with their team for at least one season before they can be traded.”
PVL executives Sherwin Malonzo and Ricky Palou. –PVL IMAGES
He added that teams will not be allowed to trade draft rights either.
The league is also not considering multi-team trades at this time, opting to allow only two-team deals for now.
Since the league’s inaugural draft last year, rookies have been signed to contracts with a minimum of two years and a maximum of three.
The second PVL Rookie Draft takes place Sunday at Novotel, with a stacked class led by three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen aiming to bolster all 12 teams.
Meanwhile, the PVL will continue to support the overseas dreams of the local players after Alyssa Solomon’s name was conspicuously missing in the draft class.
Asked about Solomon’s draft absence, Palou revealed the UAAP star is exploring an international career — a move the league supports.
“We really do not want to stop players from playing abroad,” said Palou. “For one, it will be good for them income-wise, and secondly, it will help them develop. When they come back, they’ll be able to share what they learned with the other players we have here.”
Palou, who is also vice president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation and chairman of its National Teams Commission, added that the federation is appealing to the Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) following Solomon’s three-year ban after withdrawing from the Asian Quota Draft amid UAAP Season 87.
