Well-traveled playmaker Tia Andaya looks to write the latest chapter of her volleyball career in the Philippines.
After a fruitful career overseas, Filipina-American prospect Tia Andaya is now trying her luck in the Philippines as one of 60 applicants for the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft.
Andaya, a 24-year-old setter, is set to bring a resumé that includes her NCAA Division 1 career with Central Washington University and Gonzaga, along with her professional stints in Albania with SK Tirana, and in Romania with CSM Lugoj.
Andaya believes that this will be her biggest “edge” as she tries to establish herself as a name to watch among the 12-team playing field.
“I think everywhere in the world has a different style of volleyball, and so I think that’s what gives me a little bit of an edge, because I have a lot of different perspectives to bring and different styles to kind of show,” Andaya told the media during Day 1 of the 2025 Draft Combine held at Paco Arena in Manila.
“It was a lot different, and there was a big learning curve. Like I said before, it was very different country to country, so I had a lot of growing to do as a player from America to Europe, to here in Asia. But I think I have grown as a player and I will continue to grow, but it’s nice having that different background,” Andaya, who traces her Filipina roots to Manila, added.
Along with her PVL draft commitments, Andaya is also training with the Alas Pilipinas national team as they gear up for a full set of international competitions throughout the year, headlined by the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
While she’s still a relative stranger to Philippine volleyball, spending time with some of the Philippines’ biggest stars has given Andaya an initial impression of the talent level that the country has to offer.
“I think it was just a super cool opportunity that I couldn’t pass up! Playing at the highest level in any country is an honor, so when I got the call, I had to answer. Then just spending more time in the Philippines, learning more about this country and then also playing with that group of girls is just really cool,” said Andaya, who was part of Alas’ practice on Friday morning before rushing to the Draft Combine.
Training with Alas Pilipinas has also allowed Tia Andaya to learn from Jia Morado-de Guzman, who recently wrapped up her Japan V.League stint with the Denso Airybees.
“She also has a lot of experience from [Japan], so I think she has a unique perspective that she shared with me, and she’s also just helped with the transition coming into the Philippines because it’s different, so she’s made the transition easy for me,” Andaya said of the Alas Pilipinas captain.
It remains to be seen as to which team will take Tia Andaya in the draft proper scheduled this June 8, but regardless of what happens, the Fil-Am ace is just excited to start this next chapter of her volleyball career in the Philippines.
“I’m not sure as to what my expectations are, but if I’ll be honest, this is a really good experience for me, and I’m super excited to see what it’s all about. But from playing with the national team, the girls that I have already met here, the level is super good and there’s lots of talent here.”
Banner images courtesy of Cas Aseoche, the Premier Volleyball League.