Farm Fresh head coach Alessandro Lodi heaped praise on Bella Belen after their PVL clash, calling the Capital1 rookie “one of a kind” for her exceptional skill, consistency, and volleyball IQ.
Farm Fresh head coach Alessandro Lodi had nothing but praise for Capital1 rookie Bella Belen after their 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference duel on Tuesday, October 21.
Belen once again showcased her all-around game with 20 points and 19 excellent digs. However, it was the Foxies that came out on top in four sets, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After the match, the Italian tactician admitted that the No. 1 overall pick is indeed a special talent. During the match, Lodi even called out Belen, saying to his team that she’s “killing us.”
“Well, I don't know what I can add about Belen that has not been said yet,” Lodi said. “But from my perspective, and maybe I have a little more insight or I understand the game a little better than many, she is kind of one of a kind.”
Why is Belen one of a kind?
Lodi went on to explain how Belen’s brilliance isn’t defined by raw physical dominance but by her superior volleyball IQ and exceptional skill set.
“She doesn't look overwhelming. It seems she's doing nothing because she's not over the block. She's not extremely physical, but she damn knows what she's doing with the ball,” he said.
“She has ball control that is exceptional, she has a thousand shots, and she frustrates people because when you have somebody hitting over the block, there is little to be frustrated about. But with Belen, you have the feeling, ‘I can do that too’ because she's not really superior to me in terms of physical skills. But she plays better volleyball.”
Consistency and mastery
The Foxies' head coach likened Belen to some of the sport’s greatest names — those who may not possess the most eye-popping athleticism but are elite because of their consistency and technical mastery.
“There are some examples, both in the men's and the women's game, of players that were not the most physical or the most spectacular, but phenomenal consistency, lots of tools, lots of shots, lots of solutions, and she's on her way to becoming that.”

Bella Belen spikes the ball during Capital1's loss to Farm Fresh in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference. | Photo: PVL
Lodi added that Belen’s dominance isn’t by chance — it’s the result of relentless work and elite-level understanding of the game.
“She’s really, really good, and it’s not by accident because one time by accident, even I can play one time and score 25 points, but she does it all the time,” he said.
“Before it was UAAP — okay, she plays against nobody. Well, now, it’s the pros. And so now she plays against people. She’s really good, and I hope she stays humble and keeps working because she for sure has the tools to be really good for many, many years.”
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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.