Long before her name was called as the seventh overall pick in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft, Tia Andaya was already drawing quiet intrigue from coaches and scouts alike.
A name unfamiliar to many local fans but recognized within the national team circle, the 24-year-old Filipino-American setter arrived at the Novotel Manila Araneta City on Sunday as one of the biggest wild cards in this year’s draft. By the end of the night, she had officially become a Flying Titan.
“I'm definitely going to have to adjust, but it's going to be a learning curve,” said Andaya, beaming with optimism. “I'm excited. It's going to be super fun to play for a crowd.”
Selected by the Choco Mucho Flying Titans—one of the league’s most popular and closely followed teams—Andaya now finds herself thrust into the spotlight of Philippine volleyball’s vibrant pro scene.
But make no mistake: her path to this moment was far from typical.
After finishing her collegiate career with Central Washington University in the United States, Andaya took her talents overseas, playing professionally for KS Tirana in Albania and later for CSM Lugoj in Romania. Those experiences molded a poised and confident athlete, battle-tested by international competition and capable of adapting quickly to new environments.
Still, despite her European stint and relative anonymity on Philippine soil, Andaya had already earned a spot in the Alas Pilipinas Women’s training pool—a testament to her talent, work ethic, and potential. Her inclusion in the national team program meant she had already been putting in the work, helping the squad gear up for the AVC Challenge Cup where the Filipinas have gotten off to a red-hot 2-0 start.
“One step at a time. I think just taking things as they come. Staying grounded and just focusing on volleyball is going to be how I get through it,” she shared, her tone calm but focused.
That level-headed approach will serve her well as she enters a setter rotation stacked with depth and experience. At Choco Mucho, Andaya will train alongside Mars Alba—a fellow member of the Alas Pilipinas pool—plus beloved playmaker Deanna Wong and the veteran Jem Ferrer. It’s a dynamic group, one that will demand excellence, competition, and chemistry all at once.
But Andaya welcomes the challenge.
“I’m just grateful,” she said. “Hearing my name called was already such a blessing.”
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