Two generations of La Salle setters are finally crossing paths—and for Julyana "Jules" Tolentino, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
In a move that felt more like destiny than coincidence, the 22-year-old Tolentino was selected as Petro Gazz’s lone pick in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft held Sunday at Novotel Manila Araneta City. And with that pick comes an extraordinary opportunity—to train under her longtime idol, the legendary Chie Saet.
“Honestly, this team sobrang minanifest ko talaga ito kasi nandoon din po yung ates and also si Ate Chie rin po, minanifest ko rin talaga na maabutan ko siya kasi I really wanted to learn from her talaga,” said Tolentino moments after being drafted.
It’s a full-circle moment, decades in the making. Saet, now 40 years old, has long been a symbol of excellence in setting, earning two Best Setter awards and three UAAP championships with the DLSU Lady Spikers in the early 2000s. Despite the years, her influence hasn’t waned. Just this season, she was honored as Miss Quality Minutes at the 2025 PVL Press Corps Awards Night—proof that her court IQ and leadership remain invaluable.
For Tolentino, the connection to Saet runs deeper than shared alma maters. It’s a torch-passing moment she’s dreamt about, manifested, and now fully embraces.
In her final year donning the green and white, Tolentino showcased her flexibility and poise by sharing the playmaking role with rookie Mikole Kaye Setter. The experience honed her sense of teamwork and adaptability—traits that Petro Gazz clearly saw as vital to their already veteran-rich lineup.
Now, she finds herself in the company of champions. Tolentino is set to feed sets to an arsenal of offensive weapons that includes not just one, but two two-time PVL Most Valuable Players—Brooke Van Sickle and Myla Pablo. The leap from collegiate star to professional rookie is daunting, but Tolentino sees it as nothing short of a blessing.
“Super excited kasi veteran team na ang Petro Gazz and they’re a champion team so grabe rin talaga yung growth talaga ng team na yun, so being able to be in that team, super fulfilling,” she said.
Joining Petro Gazz doesn’t just mean learning from Saet. Tolentino steps into a talented setter corps that features veterans Djanel Cheng and Donnalyn Paralejas. The competition is steep, but so is the potential for growth. For a rookie like Tolentino, it’s the perfect storm—an environment rich in wisdom, mentorship, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
But make no mistake: Jules Tolentino isn’t just content to sit on the sidelines. She’s here to compete, to grow, and to carve out her own legacy in the PVL.
For Petro Gazz, her arrival signals more than just fresh talent—it marks the continuity of a winning tradition. With Saet gently guiding from one side of the generation gap, and Tolentino listening intently from the other, the Angels might have just found the perfect bridge between their storied past and their championship future.
And in the eyes of Tolentino, there’s no better way to start this new chapter than by learning from someone who’s written volumes in the book of Philippine volleyball.
“Minanifest ko talaga ito,” she repeated—and now, the dream has become a reality.
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