Call it a straight-sets win: Bella Belen’s throwback look and Kim Malabunga’s "haunted" uniform just aced Halloween.
There was no official Halloween costume contest in Philippine volleyball. But if there was one, Bella Belen and Kim Malabunga would’ve easily taken the win — not for being the scariest or flashiest, but for giving the season its soul back.
Across the league, teams were in full festive mode.
The Cignal Super Spikers brought out their “super” looks, the Creamline Cool Smashers had fun with creative getups (including Jia De Guzman’s viral coach impression), while the Choco Mucho Flying Titans repped their favorite NBA stars.
[ALSO READ: No ghosting here: PVL stars ace their halloween costumes]
The Akari Chargers joined the party too, keeping the vibes light and fun.
Even UAAP athletes shared playful post-game snaps as Round 2 heated up.
But two names stood out for giving Halloween a deeper spin.
After the Capital1 Solar Spikers’ sweep of the Cignal HD Spikers in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, Bella Belen took to her Instagram broadcast channel to thank fans — sharing a throwback look, seemingly as Mama Mary.
Her choice echoed the reminder from Fr. Dags, a Filipino Catholic priest who shared an appeal regarding the original meaning of Halloween on Facebook:
“Instead of dressing up our kids as devils and demons, let’s dress them up as angels and saints. Here’s why: Our children will be inspired to imitate the saints and grow up to be holy people too. The saints they imitate will surely pray for them.”
Bella’s thoughtful take reflected that spirit.
While most saw October 31 as a night for tricks and scares, she quietly reminded everyone that Halloween can be holy, too.
This Halloween though, Bella Belen went for a pregnant Marites look, with teammate Trisha Genesis making sure the team kept the playful energy alive.
....Pretty far from being holy.
Meanwhile, over in the men’s side, the Criss Cross King Crunchers made sure the spooky energy lingered as they compete in the 2025 Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference.
Leading the way is Kim Malabunga, who decided to “haunt” the day by wearing his Alas Pilipinas uniform — the same one from the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship when the Philippines lost a heartbreaker to Iran.
It was a clever nod to his past — the “multo” he had already owned up to during Spikers’ Turf Media Day earlier in October.
“Multo ko? Ang daming nakakaalam ng multo ko, eh,” Kim laughed.
“Syempre ‘yong last tournament namin against Iran. ‘Yong na-touch net ako. Para akong nagluksa. Ang sakit.”
“Parang ‘di ko pa kaya noon mag-post about it, pero kahapon, kinaya ko na. So medyo... ‘yun multo.”
His “costume” wasn’t about pretending to be someone else — it was about embracing the ghost of an almost-win, and turning it into a laugh instead of a loss.
This year, Bella Belen and Kim Malabunga won Halloween in their own ways: one through grace of a throwback, the other through humor.
Because sometimes, the best costumes aren’t the scariest — they’re the ones that remind us of faith, reflection, and finding light even in our ghosts.
(With reports from Bettina Dabu/One Sports)
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Inna Mina is a sportswriter with a passion for telling stories that go beyond the scoreboard.
She covers running, athletics, and other major Philippine sporting events, while also following grassroots sports, athlete journeys, and women in sports. Her work also includes lifestyle stories on health, fitness, and community.