Bella Belen embraced her first matchup against the PLDT High Speed Hitters— the team she once imagined joining if not for the PVL Rookie Draft.
It only seemed fitting that Bella Belen’s first official test in the PVL came against the very team she once envisioned herself playing for.
The three-time UAAP MVP marked her much-anticipated professional debut in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference by putting up 13 points and nine excellent digs in the Capital1 Solar Spikers’ straight-sets loss to the PLDT High Speed Hitters.
Facing the team she once dreamed of joining
Before entering the pros, Belen openly shared in a One Sports Ask-Me-Anything session on Reddit last February that if there were no PVL Rookie Draft, PLDT would have been her ideal landing spot.
She admired the team’s system and believed she could make a real impact there, even playing alongside future High Speed Hitters Kianna Dy and Majoy Baron during the 2021 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship.
Although destiny placed her with the Capital1 Solar Spikers, Belen was grateful for the chance to face the team she once hoped to join.
"I'm very happy na hindi man ako sa kanila napunta, nakalaban ko sila," she said after the match. "Ang dami kong natutunan this game na pwede kong baguhin and pwede kong ma-apply next game. So, ayun, very happy talaga ako na nakatapat ko sila.”
“Medyo close-close din kasi lalo na ‘yung mga coaches, so happy lang po,” she added.
Learning curve in the pros
Beyond the sentimental value of the matchup, Belen also faced one of her biggest challenges yet, which was PLDT’s towering frontline and elite defense.
The former NU star admitted that she struggled to adjust quickly enough but Belen is determined to improve moving forward.
"Expected ko talaga ‘yun na lalo na matatangkad sila. And ano talaga sila eh, blocking team," she explained. "Siguro ‘yun din ‘yung babaguhin ko next game [na] kailangan umpisa pa lang marunong na akong magbasa ng kalaban."
[ALSO READ: Bella Belen upbeat after narrow PVL debut loss with Capital1: 'Mas kaya ko pa siyang itaas']
With her rookie season now underway, Belen understands that the competition will only get tougher, adding that she must constantly evolve to match the pace of the pro game.
“Siguro challenge din siya for me na kahit rookie ako, kailangan itaas ko pa 'yung level ng paglalaro ko kasi hindi basta-basta 'yung PVL talaga,” she said. “Lahat ng teams nagsa-scout, maraming data. So ako, nasa sa akin kung paano ko i-challenge ‘yung sarili ko, kung paano ako mag-adjust in-game.”
Belen and the Solar Spikers will aim to regroup and come back stronger in their next match against the Nxled Chameleons on Thursday, October 14, still at the Big Dome.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.