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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Capital1 banks on Belen firepower as PVL Reinforced Conference kicks off

Capital1 banks on Belen firepower as PVL Reinforced Conference kicks off

Published Oct 6, 2025 02:14 pm

At A Glance

  • Bella Belen, the top overall pick in this year's rookie draft, will be thrust into the spotlight early as she joins Capital1 in its opening match against Choco Mucho in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
Bella Belen (PVL Images)
Bella Belen (PVL Images)
Games Tuesday
(Ynares Center Montalban)
4 p.m. - ZUS Coffee vs Akari
6:30 p.m. - Capital1 vs Choco Mucho
Bella Belen, the top overall pick in this year’s rookie draft, will be thrust into the spotlight early as she joins Capital1 in its opening match against Choco Mucho in the 2025 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the Ynares Center in Montalban, Rizal.
Match is set for 6:30 p.m., following the 4 p.m. curtain-raiser between last year’s runner-up Akari and ZUS Coffee.
Although previously sidelined due to national team duties, the three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player and former National University star is ready to make her presence felt in her professional debut.
“Siguro ano pa rin naman, same Bella, pero 2.0,” Belen said.
“Siguro mas palaban kasi syempre yung mga makakalaban ko mas may experience na sakin. Marami din akong matututunan sa kanila and kailangan ko lang mag-perform talaga kung ano yung alam kong kaya kong gawin,” she added.
Finishing seventh last year and 11th in On Tour, the Solar Spikers are eager to eclipse their previous performances with Belen expected to team up with Ukrainian import Oleksandra Bytsenko, as well as locals Leila Cruz, KC Galdonez, Roma Doromal, Trisha Genesis and Sydney Niegos.
Their opponent, Choco Mucho, is equally eager to bounce back from a disappointing 10th-place finish in On Tour.
Leading the Flying Titans is American import Anyse Smith, who impressed Filipino fans with her stint for Nakhon Ratchasima QminC VC in the AVC Champions League. She will be joined by veterans Dindin Manabat, Des Cheng, Isa Molde, Royse Tubino, and Cherry Nunag.
Meanwhile, Akari hopes to turn things around after finishing eighth in the On Tour. American reinforcement Annie Mitchem, who has played in Indonesia, Italy, Turkey, and Brazil, will lead the Chargers alongside Ivy Lacsina, Grethcel Soltones, Eli Soyud, and Faith Nisperos.
ZUS Coffee also enters the fray with high hopes, banking on American import Anna DeBeer -- formerly of the Indy Ignite in the Major Volleyball League -- and returning national team middle blocker Thea Gagate.
The tournament features two pools of six teams, playing in a single round-robin format. The top three teams from each group will advance to the second round, facing only the bottom three from the opposite group.
Rankings will follow the FIVB classification system: total wins, match points, set ratio, and point ratio.
After the second round, teams will be re-ranked from 1 to 12. The bottom four will be eliminated, while the top eight move on to the quarterfinals, which will follow a 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5 knockout format. The semifinals, finals, and bronze medal matches will also be do-or-die, one-game face-offs.
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