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Angela Jackson sat quietly in the draft venue, her heart pounding with each name called.
At just 20 years old, with no UAAP women's division experience to her name, the University of the Philippines Integrated School alumna knew she was a long shot.
But armed with grit, raw potential, and a dream, she dared to take the leap.
On Sunday, that leap was rewarded.
With the 28th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Draft, ZUS Coffee made Jackson the youngest draftee of the year — a moment that turned a gamble into a golden opportunity.
“Very much relieved. I would say what I did was a bold move. I’m relieved that I was chosen,” Jackson said, her voice still trembling from the moment her name echoed through the hall.
At 5-foot-9, Jackson slots in as an opposite spiker, but her journey to the PVL stage has been anything but conventional. Unlike most of her peers who cut their teeth under the national spotlight of the UAAP or NCAA, Jackson’s path was built in the shadows — away from TV cameras, analyst panels, and packed collegiate arenas.
It made every passing pick feel heavier.
“Medyo nakakakaba po siyang experience. Of course, I’m one of the wala masyadong exposure, but I’m so glad po that I took the step and very much thankful [for] the opportunity,” she shared candidly.
The third round came and went. Teams started passing early in the fourth, tightening the window for hopefuls like Jackson. The nerves were real, the doubt creeping in with every silence between announcements.
“Just very anxious po. But I kept on hoping po na sana kahit pi nakakakaba kasi may nagpa-pass na po na team so pakaunti ng pakaunti. But I’m glad that I was able to be picked.”
When ZUS Coffee called her name, it wasn’t just a draft selection — it was validation. For Jackson, it meant that potential could still speak louder than pedigree.
And she won’t be alone in her rookie journey. ZUS Coffee’s draft class is stacked with talent: UAAP champion middle blocker AC Miner at 5th overall, explosive attacker Mycah Go at 17th, and defensive specialist Riza Nogales at 25th. It’s a blend of experience and firepower — the kind of locker room that could turn Jackson’s raw tools into refined weaponry.
Most exciting of all for the young spiker? Sharing the court with someone she’s long admired.
“Very much excited po. I hope po I could learn things from her and I’m looking forward to be able to play with her,” she said of Miner, her eyes lighting up at the thought.
The Thunderbelles, entering a new chapter in their franchise history, now hold a potential diamond in the rough. Jackson’s presence may not have caused a stir during the early rounds, but in the eyes of her new team, she offers something just as valuable — hunger.
“Of course, this is a big jump. I would say na I have a lot of work to put in,” Jackson admitted, fully aware of the uphill climb.
