Two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player Bella Belen expressed her excitement as she joins the country's cream of the crop in the AVC Challenge Cup set next week at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Belen, fresh from leading the National University Lady Bulldogs to their second volleyball title in three seasons, said it felt different when she was called up to don the national tricolors in the major tournament that gathered the best teams in Asia and Oceania.

“Every volleyball player naman po ‘yon po talaga ang ultimate dream na maging parte ng national team and makapag-compete internationally,” Belen said after the Lady Bulldogs won the UAAP Season 86 crown on Wednesday evening, May 15.

“Sobrang nakaka-proud din sa sarili kasi nakikita rin pala ng ibang tao ‘yong pinaghihirapan ko and parang gusto nila akong maging part ng national team, and ‘yon po sobrang happy po [ako],” she added.

Already making huge waves in her young career, the 21-year-old Belen stressed how excited she is to compete for the Philippines where she will be playing alongside veterans like Chery Tiggo’s Sisi Rondina and Denso’s Jia Morado-De Guzman.

“No’ng nakita ko po ‘yong pool ng lineup na nandoon sila ate Sisi (Rondina), sila ate Jia Morado(-De Guzman), Eya (Laure), ‘yong mga veteran, ‘yong mga di ko po naging teammate,” she continued.

“Sobrang nakaka-excite din kasi marami talagang pwedeng matutunan sa kanila kasi sobrang dami narin nilang experience sa local at international,” she added.

Aside from the seasoned spikers, Belen will also team up with La Salle’s Angel Canino.

“Nakakexcite din po kasi magkalaban kami sa UAAP eh, so it’s time naman na maging magkakampi kami and magkakaiba kami ng pinanggalingan ng school," said Belen.

“Pero once na pagsamahin naman kami I think magcli-click naman kaagad kasi matagal naman na kaming magkakilala."