Cebuana Lhuillier Gems seek PYCL title with blockbuster picks in draft

Manila Times - Oct 19, 2026

The Cebuana Lhuillier Gems are making a strong push for the PickleYard Conference League (PYCL) Season 2 title after securing the No. 1 overall pick, Filipino-Australian standout Crystal Mildwaters, and pulling off a stunning late second round steal by drafting another Australian national champion Aaron Johnson. Mildwaters and Johnson are teammates in Australia and won national titles, giving the Gems a formidable duo with proven chemistry and championship experience. “We are proud of the team we have assembled for Season 2 of the PYCL. Securing top talents like Crystal Mildwaters and Aaron Johnson, alongside a strong supporting cast of experienced and accomplished players, gives us great reason to be optimistic. At Cebuana Lhuillier, we believe in the power of sports to develop not only athletic talent but also discipline, teamwork, and character. compete, and excel,” said Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier. Team manager Richard Villaseran is equally confident in the team's potential, particularly with the addition of the two Australian-based champions. “Crystal is easily the most important player in the league, with only three foreign female players available. But Aaron is the steal of the draft. I'm still shocked we got him at the end of the second round—he was definitely a first-rounder....

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