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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider NU retires Bella Belen's No. 4 jersey

NU retires Bella Belen's No. 4 jersey

Published Sep 4, 2025 06:06 pm

At A Glance

  • From her modest start at the Palarong Pambansa to becoming a UAAP women's volleyball sensation, Bella Belen has proven time and again that she is among the greatest to have ever played in the collegiate scene.
Lady Bulldogs team manager Engr. Engineer Bing Diet, from left, NU chairman Dr. Hans Sy, Mhicaela Belen, NU president Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita, Jr., NU vice chairman Nilo Ocampo, NU athletics director Otie Camangian (UAAP Media)
Lady Bulldogs team manager Engr. Engineer Bing Diet, from left, NU chairman Dr. Hans Sy, Mhicaela Belen, NU president Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita, Jr., NU vice chairman Nilo Ocampo, NU athletics director Otie Camangian (UAAP Media)
From her modest start at the Palarong Pambansa to becoming a UAAP women’s volleyball sensation, Bella Belen has proven time and again that she is among the greatest to have ever played in the collegiate scene.
And to further cement her remarkable legacy before she jumps into the pro scene, National University officially retired the No. 4 jersey of the 23-year-old star spiker during the school's Pep Rally held at MOA Music Hall in Pasay City Thursday, Sept. 4.
This would be the first time a student-athlete received an exceptional recognition from NU since it joined the premier collegiate league in 1938.
Belen also etched her name as the third player to achieve such a feat from their mother school next to former collegiate stars Rachel Anne Daquis (Far Eastern University) and Manilla Santos-Ng (De La Salle University).
Before hanging her jersey as a Lady Bulldog, the 5-foot-7 outside hitter helped the Sampaloc-based squad clinch its first-ever back-to-back titles in women's volleyball.
She also spearheaded their monumental campaign in Season 84 after beating La Salle in two games to bag their first UAAP crown in 65 years.
In the same year, Belen won the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player plums, the first player to ever do it in the division.
From there, Belen lived up to her lofty billing and was named as UAAP MVP thrice while bagging several individual awards, including Best Outside Hitter award.
Last June, Belen was drafted as first overall pick by the Capital1 Solar Spikers in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Rookie Draft. She even visited the youngsters in Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City before flying to Manila for the draft combine.

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