At just 20 years old and with little college volleyball experience, Angela Jackson is making a bold leap—straight into the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Rookie Draft.
The former University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) standout is bypassing the usual collegiate route and instead placing her full bet on a pro career, becoming the youngest player in this year’s 60-player draft class.
“Ang mentor ko po kasi, plano po talaga namin na I would go straight to pro after high school. By the time that I graduated high school po, PVL introduced the age limit ng 21 years old. So ngayon po, and with the draft po, I feel like it's easier, parang the process po, it's more streamlined,” said Jackson, who was previously part of UST's pool
Jackson had always planned to turn professional after high school, but her plans were temporarily halted by the PVL’s minimum age rule. Now that she’s just weeks away from turning 21, the door to the pros has finally reopened.
“So, I took it as ano na po, to go na since mag-21 naman na rin po. Siguro po pinaka-pros, I feel like it's exposure siyempre po. If you are able to have the chance na ma-lineup, I don't feel like, siyempre po, hindi din naman po always sure yun na you'll get the exposure,” she added.
While most prospects in the draft have already made names for themselves in the UAAP or NCAA, Jackson enters as a relatively unknown figure, armed with raw talent and a determined mindset. The 5-foot-9 opposite spiker knows she’s stepping into unfamiliar territory, but she’s more than willing to embrace the challenge.
“I take it po na maybe I have more leeway since I'm the youngest, so hindi ko rin po masyadong pinipressure yung sarili ko. But, oo po, siyempre, the anxiety din po since they're all older than me. I expect myself na makipagsabayan rin po, even though I'm the youngest.”
Rather than seeing her age and inexperience as setbacks, Jackson believes they give her an edge—a chance to grow and adapt faster than most, with the energy and work ethic to back it up.
“I can offer po na I'm very confident po in terms of my blocking skills. Hardworking din naman po ako, so, I'll be working hard po to reach whatever expectation that they want to impose on me. And I'll work very very hard to reach that certain level that the PVL sets.”
