National University star Bella Belen is on track of winning her third Most Valuable Player plum after leading the statistical race at the conclusion of the first round of the elimination in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.

Playing in her final year as a Lady Bulldog, the 22-year-old Belen, who won the MVP award in 2022 and 2024, accumulated 159.6 statistical points (SP) to inch closer to the most coveted individual award in the distaff side.

The 5-foot-8 opposite spiker placed seventh among the scorers with 107 points; eight in spiking efficiency (33.47%); sixth in digs (2.60 per set); and fifth in reception (33.58%).

Those numbers proved to be vital as the Sherwin Meneses-mentored squad finished the first round with a pristine 7-0 record.

Next to Belen is De La Salle’s Shevana Laput (157.692) and Adamson super rookie Shaina Nitura (145.556).

For the Best Outside Spiker plum, Belen has 303 positional points (PPs) with Canino (267), Nitura (252), Alinsug (240) and Poyos (217) inside the Top Five.

La Salle's Lilay del Castillo paces Best Middle Blocker race with 181 positional points followed by Ateneo’s AC Miner (171), UE’s Riza Nogales (160), La Salle’s Amie Provido (158), and Ateneo’s Yvana Sulit (139).

Far Eastern University’s Tin Ubaldo and NU’s Shaira Jardio, meanwhile, are favorites for the Best Setter and Best Libero plums.

Meanwhile, Ateneo’s Ken Batas bested other male spikers after placing first in statistical points (160.370) and Best Opposite Spiker races (230 PPs).