Former SF State standout Tolenada leads this year's PSL draftees

Mike Getman/SFSU (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

TAGUIG--After a stellar collegiate career at San Francisco State, Iris Tolenada now has a huge chance to carry the momentum to the pros as she was selected first overall by Philips Gold in the 2015 Philippine Super Liga Draft at the SM Aura Events Center on Thursday.

The 23-year-old setter, who won the California Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player award in only her sophomore season in 2012, the year after she received the Freshman of the Year plum, will join the new club coached by Francis Vicente that will feature Michele Gumabao.

Philips then used its second round pick, seventh overall, to draft NU's Desiree Dadang, giving her a chance to join her fellow Lady Bulldog Myla Pablo.

Former UP Lady Maroon Angeli Araneta became the second overall pick after Foton used its first round pick on her.

Cignal made a surprise selection in its third overall pick by going for former CSB's libero Rica Enclona over the more touted Denden Lazaro from Ateneo. Lazaro slipped to the second round and was chosen eighth overall by Foton.

Completing the first round, Rizza Mandapat went to Shopinas as the fourth pick, Therese Veronas was drafted by Shacman as the fifth pick, and former North Carolina State player Alexa Micek added more offensive firepower to Petron as the sixth pick.

Joining Dadang and Lazaro in the second round were M.J. Ticar (ninth pick, Cignal), Djanel Cheng (tenth pick, Shopinas), Sam Dawson (11th pick, Shacman), and Ivy Perez (12th pick, Petron).

The 2015 PSL season will open on March 22.