Capital1 rookie Bella Belen looked back on her first PVL conference with optimism, embracing the lessons from the Solar Spikers' quarterfinal finish.
It wasn’t the rookie campaign Bella Belen had envisioned.
But even so, the Capital1 rising star walked out of her first PVL conference believing the Solar Spikers took a meaningful first step toward becoming a real contender.
Fresh off Capital1’s quarterfinal exit at the hands of powerhouse ZUS Coffee, Belen reflected on a Reinforced Conference run full of ups and downs.
“Ang laki po ng na-improve namin as a team,” Belen told reporters. “Pero siyempre, I'm still hoping na kaya pa namin mag-improve pa kasi lahat ng teams going up na 'yung trend.”
[ALSO READ: Bella Belen knows building a winning culture with Capital1 takes time]
A quarterfinal run built on hard work
With Belen at the helm, the Solar Spikers reached just their second quarterfinal appearance in the PVL—something she believes wasn’t just out of luck.
“Nakaabot kami until quarters, parang hindi naman ‘yun tsamba,” she said. “We really worked hard para makapasok. Malaking boost sa confidence namin na kaya namin lumaban.”
Bella Belen and Capital1 after their quarterfinal loss to ZUS Coffee. | Photo: PVL
But the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 PVL Draft also knows confidence is not enough. The next level requires sharper performances and a mindset shift.
“Kailangan lang namin ng konting push pa at sipag sa training para tumaas pa 'yung paglalaro namin,” she added. “Para hindi quarters lang, mas mataas pa.”
No more excuses in the future
Even before entering the pro ranks, Belen already prepared herself for growing pains. She recalled National University’s rise from rebuilding squad to UAAP powerhouse.
“Hindi naman kami naging strong team isang gabi lang. Talagang pinagtrabahuhan namin sila ng ilang months. So, ganoon din with Capital, kailangan lang siguro magtiyaga pa,” Belen said.
[ALSO READ: Bella Belen says pressure still there even after first PVL win with Capital1]
So while Capital1 is one of the league’s youngest teams, the three-time UAAP MVP refuses to hide behind the label.
“Hindi namin pwedeng gawing excuse na young team kami kaya kami natatalo,” Belen stressed. “Kailangan parang as much as possible na young team kami, kailangan mas eager kaming manalo and mas eager kaming matuto sa mga bawat laro namin.”
For now, Belen will shift her attention towards Alas Pilipinas Women as they gear up for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
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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.