For years, Camilla Lamina’s role at National University was defined by control, precision, and composure.
As the steady orchestrator of one of the most dominant collegiate volleyball programs in the Philippines, Lamina was the engine that kept NU’s system running at a championship level. She dictated tempo, organized the offense, and ensured that the Lady Bulldogs remained firmly entrenched among the country’s elite programs through her decision-making and leadership on the court.
Now, however, the challenge ahead is no longer about sustaining a winning culture—it is about creating one from the ground up.
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Lamina officially begins her professional journey after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft, with the Galeries Tower Highrisers making a bold statement by building their future around the former NU standout. The selection places immediate expectations on the accomplished setter, whose responsibilities now extend beyond running an offense to shaping the identity and foundation of a developing franchise.
For Galeries Tower, the decision signals a clear commitment to long-term growth, banking on Lamina’s experience in a high-pressure collegiate system to help accelerate the team’s rise in the professional ranks. Her leadership, court awareness, and winning pedigree are expected to play a central role as the Highrisers aim to transition into consistent playoff contenders in the PVL.
‘DESERVE NI LAMS ANG NO. 1 PICK’
Capital1 star Mhicaela Belen said she’s proud of former NU teammate Camille Lamina, who went No. 1 in the 2026 PVL Draft, and welcomed new teammates Bernadett Pepito and Khy Cepada, saying both will boost the Solar Spikers. pic.twitter.com/OxfuWbjEdL
— Fastbreak (@fastbreaknewsph) June 4, 2026
The significance of Lamina’s selection is further highlighted by the continued rise of National University’s volleyball program, which has now produced the No. 1 overall pick in three consecutive Rookie Drafts. Following Thea Gagate’s selection in 2024 and another top pick in the succeeding draft cycle, Lamina’s rise reinforces NU’s growing reputation as one of the country’s premier talent-producing institutions in volleyball.
Adding to the narrative, Capital1 Solar Spikers star Bella Belen—herself a former NU standout and last year’s No. 1 overall pick—expressed excitement over Lamina’s entry into the professional league. Belen, who shared years of on-court chemistry with Lamina during their collegiate stint, shared her thoughts on seeing her former teammate take the next step in her career.
“Excited din ako makalban si Lams kasi siyempre, all this time siya ‘yung kasama ko sa loob ng court and ngayon na nasa PVL na siya. Excited ako makita kung ano pa ‘yung pwede niyang ma-improve pa as an athlete, and ano ‘yung pwede niyang madala sa PVL. Excited na rin ako kung paano ako magpe-perform ‘pag siya ‘yung kalaban ko. Lams, stare down ka sa ‘kin, charot. Masaya lang ako for Lams kasi deserve niya talagang maging first pick,” Belen said in a media interaction.
Beyond the playful competitiveness, Belen also underscored her pride in NU’s continued success in producing elite-level talent, emphasizing how the program’s sustained excellence has helped elevate Philippine volleyball as a whole.
“Siguro hindi ko ma-explain, pero siguro masaya lang na isa sa mga volleyball program na umaangat is ‘yung NU. And sana magtuloy-tuloy, kumbaga hindi lang hihinto ‘yung programa ni NU, and sana marami pang ma-produce na magaling na players ‘yung NU,” she added.
Galeries Tower’s decision to select Lamina at the top of the draft reflects a broader philosophy centered on long-term development rather than short-term results. By entrusting a young but proven setter with the responsibility of leading a rebuilding squad, the Highrisers are signaling their belief that sustainable success begins with leadership, discipline, and the ability to set a standard that influences an entire roster.
As Lamina transitions into the professional ranks, expectations will be immediate—but so too will be the opportunity to redefine a franchise’s trajectory and establish herself as one of the PVL’s emerging cornerstone players.
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