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Bella Belen defies hectic schedule

Sports | Volleyball

Bella Belen defies hectic schedule

By Mark Rey Montejo

At A Glance

Belen once steered the same school with some of her college teammates over the similar rival to top the 2019 Davao edition.

LAOAG CITY – Three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen knows her priorities, even if it means travelling for several hours from Manila to Ilocos Norte and back.

Despite having a hectic schedule due to her national team duties and her pursuit of landing a team in the Premier Volleyball League, the 22-year-old Belen made sure to visit and watch the 2025 Palarong Pambansa where she was once the young star idolized by many.

The former National University hitter took her time to support NCR’s NU-Nazareth School in its redemption win over Western Visayas’ Bacolod Tay Tung, 25-12, 25-14, 25-8, last Friday, May 30.

Belen once steered the same school with some of her college teammates over the similar rival to top the 2019 Davao edition.

“To all volleyball players, congratulations kasi ‘di biro na makarating sa Palarong Pambansa. Malaking honor siya as an athlete, ako nag-Palaro ako so mataas yung pride ko na nakalaro ako rito,” said Belen.

“And ayon continue lang on doing what's best for them and wag silang huminto dahil maraming coaches ang nanunuod sa kanila and malay natin ma recruit sila sa UAAP,” she added.

The triumphant run by the Big City marked its first gold since 2019 after bowing to the same team in 2023 Marikina. In the following year, Far Eastern University donned the NCR colors but also yielded to the Bacolod spiker.

Aside from Belen, Alyssa Solomon and some of NU's active players in Vange Alinsug and Shaira Jardio cheered from the sidelines.

PVL's Creamline stars Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos, and Kyle Negrito graced the awarding ceremony.

Belen is being pegged as the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft.

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