Niña Ytang has joined a growing list of top volleyball prospects choosing national team duties over immediate professional opportunities.
The former University of the Philippines standout withdrew from the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft, following the lead of Alyssa Solomon, who committed to Alas Pilipinas.
“Limang taon akong naging Iskolar ng Bayan. Ngayon, ibabalik ko naman ang binigay sa akin para sa ating bansa,” said Ytang.
Ytang Would’ve Been One of the First Names Called
A four‑time UAAP Best Middle Blocker, Ytang was widely projected to be among the top selections in the draft and even emerged as a potential No. 1 overall pick after Solomon’s withdrawal.
Joining Ytang in pulling out of the draft were Letran standouts Lara Mae Silva and Natalie Estreller, who also opted to focus on their commitments with the national team.
The moves come as Alas Pilipinas continues to strengthen its long‑term pool, with University of the Philippines standouts Casiey Dongallo and Bienne Bansil likewise committing to become full‑time members of the national team program during the club season.
Together with Solomon, the latest commitments signal a growing investment in Alas Pilipinas as the program builds toward future international competitions, including the 2029 FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championship.
