Chery Tiggo EV's Jen Nierva had nothing but praise for Capital1's Bella Belen after facing her former teammate for the first time in the PVL.
For the first time in their volleyball careers, Jen Nierva and Bella Belen found themselves on opposite sides of the court.
And while the competition was fierce, the respect between the two former NU Lady Bulldogs and Alas Pilipinas stars remained the same.
Following Chery Tiggo EV’s five-set win over Capital1, 27-25, 23-25, 25-12, 22-25, 15-13, in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, Nierva made sure to praise her long-time teammate-turned-opponent for her continued excellence and growth as a leader.
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“I want to commend her. She’s one of the best spikers out there, especially here in our country,” Nierva said during the post-game press conference. “As you can see, I had a hard time, but again, it’s a team sport.
Mutual excellence, mutual respect
Nierva anchored the Crossovers' floor defense with 24 excellent digs and 17 excellent receptions, while Belen led the Solar Spikers’ offense with 22 points and nine digs.
And while the three-time UAAP MVP had her way at times against the star libero, Nierva was reminded of her importance to the team.
“I heard one of my coaches say, ‘Jen, kailangan ka namin.’ Ang laking bagay niya for me na hindi ako pwedeng mawala sa game, even if napapaluan ako, naso-score-an ako. At the end of the day, importante kung paano ‘yung team maglalaro. It’s just one point.”
From teammates to opponents
Belen and Nierva shared years of success with NU, particularly back in UAAP Season 84 where the two led the Lady Bulldogs to their first title in 65 years with a perfect 16-0 run.
Bella Belen and Jen Nierva back in UAAP Season 84. | Photo: UAAP
This time, though, they stood across the net.
Belen with Capital1, Nierva with Chery Tiggo, bringing a mix of nostalgia and pride for the star libero.
“I was happy because today is my first game playing against Bella,” Nierva shared. “It’s just a different angle to see na nasa kabilang court siya. We’re both used to playing with one another, helping each other. Nakita ko rin siya kung paano siya mag-lead sa kabila. Nakakatuwa.”
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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.