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After a stellar career in the UAAP, Bella Belen’s transition into the professional ranks is officially in full swing.
For a total of 11 years, Bella Belen wore National University’s blue and gold threads in the UAAP volleyball tournaments — an impressive stay that saw her win a whopping total of eight championships and five Most Valuable Player awards.
But as they say, all good things come to an end, and Belen is now preparing for her debut with the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
“Parang bumalik ‘yung excitement ko noong Season 84, nung [college] rookie ako sa NU, so parang rookie ulit ako sa pro naman ngayon. So ayun lang, siguro lahat ng natutunan ko as a player, as a captain, susubukan kong i-share talaga sa Capital1,” Belen said during the 2025 Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night held last June 30 at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas.
“Syempre sa una po, naninibago. Kasi ‘yun nga, I’ve been with NU for 11 years, so medyo familiar na ako sa mga tao. [But] pagdating ko po ng Capital1, ibang set of players, set of coaches, set of management, iba talaga ang environment.”
Belen is set to bring her all-around game and leadership to Capital1, which will strengthen a core led by Leila Cruz and Roma Mae Doromal, along with rookie batchmates Pia Abbu and Ivy Aquino.
“I’m very happy naman kasi may mga ibang players doon na naka-teammate ko na before, like si Ate Roma [Doromal], Ate Iris [Tolenada]…So I’m very excited lang for the future with Capital1, kasi I believe very talented ‘yung mga players na nandoon,” Belen said.
Alas Pilipinas mentor Jorge Souza de Brito has also been tapped as Capital1’s new head coach, bringing another hint of familiarity as Belen’s coach in the national team.
“Siguro po hindi naman ako masyadong nahihirapang mag-adjust, since naging coach ko na si [De Brito] sa national team since 2022, so medyo matagal na rin, and medyo kilala ko na po siya.”
As rich as Capital1’s potential is, however, Belen stressed that success won’t come overnight, and establishing a winning culture is a rather tedious process. If anything, even National U’s “Golden Generation” had to start from nothing, according to Belen.
“It takes time talaga to build a strong team, so ayun, oonti-ontiin lang din namin kagaya nung ginawa na namin sa NU, kasi ‘yung NU hindi naman kami naging strong in a span of like one year, talagang matagal,” she explained.
Due to her Alas Pilipinas commitments, it remains to be seen when Bella Belen will make her debut for Capital1. But as early as now, she has promised to give the same heart and grit she once brought to National U for over a decade.
“Paglalaban ko sila, gaya ng ginawa ko sa NU, kasi gano’n naman ako eh, gano’n na akong tao. Once na mag-commit ako, kaya ko yung paglaban, parang relasyon lang yan, basta ipaglalaban ko talaga ‘yung team ko hangga’t kaya ko,” Belen said.
And while she’s aware of the expectations placed upon her, Belen chooses to focus on the standards she’s placed upon herself, rather than dwell on the pressure of delivering instant impact as this year’s first-overall PVL Rookie Draft pick.
“Syempre I have my own expectation naman eh pagdating sa akin, so ako ang gagawin ko lang is hihigitan ko siguro ‘yung mga pinakita ko noong UAAP kahit na alam po natin na magkakaiba ‘yung paglalaro sa pro and sa UAAP.”
Banner images from the UAAP Media Bureau and Capital1 Solar Spikers on Instagram.