On Wednesday, May 14, Bella Belen joined an exclusive club of legends.
The National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs star hitter was hailed a three-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) in UAAP women's volleyball. Only two others have achieved this feat--Alyssa Valdez and Ailyn Ege.
[ALSO READ: NU's Bella Belen set to make UAAP history with third MVP award]
And as this girl from Quezon City wraps up her final year in Jhocson as a three-time UAAP champion, let's take a look back at the Bella that was and how she got to this stage.
Bella’s Beginnings
It was 2014 when Mhicaela Belen first brought her act along the street of Jhocson in Sampaloc, Manila.
The NU volleyball program was just starting its rise in UAAP Season 77, parading eventual Premier Volleyball League (PVL) stars in Faith Nisperos, Ivy Lacsina, Princess Robles, and Jen Nierva. It was the beginning of four consecutive high school trophies.
Nisperos was even hailed MVP, while Nierva was recognized as Best Libero. Now they are stars in their own right and have even served with the national team.
Thing was, Bella wasn’t even in the line up for that first year. She only got to see action in Season 78, teaming up with Sheena Toring, Erin Pangilinan, and Camilla Lamina.
They're still wearing the blue and gold in Season 87.
[ALSO READ: Erin Pangilinan, Sheena Toring turn senti, look for perfect send-off with NU in UAAP Finals]
Then came Season 80 in 2017, when she earned her first of many MVP awards as her team capped off their historic four-peat.
After a hiccup in Season 81 where they lost to the Angel Canino-led DLSZ, Bella would lead NUNS back to the top come Season 82. They went undefeated for a 12-0 record before dispatching Adamson in the Finals, bagging her first best outside hitter award and second MVP plum in the process.
The near-detours before the destiny
The irony was deep for Adamson. In an alternate universe, Belen would have been a Lady Falcon.
If not for a timely text before the stroke of midnight in 2014, Bella would have been wearing a different shade of blue.
"Halos lahat ng teammate ko nuong elementary, sa Adamson nagpuntahan at that time," Bella said, referring to Jen Zeta, Cae Lazo, and Karen Verdeflor. "Pero ako nagtry-out ako sa NU, and hinihintay ko yun textback nila Coach Babes [Castillo]."
"So patapos na 'yung araw, wala pa rin. So china-chat ko na 'yung elementary teammates ko if pwede ba magtry-out sa Adamson. Nag-text finally sila--NU--mag-aalas-dose na talaga," she recounted.
Talk about clutch Coach Babes.
Fast forward to 2020, and she was graduating from senior high. Just as any student-athlete moving on to college, Belen had the option to go to another school, a different program, a totally new environment.
And she admitted that she had her sights on a different school--the one in Taft. In another alternate universe, Belen would have been a Lady Spiker.
"Gusto ko mag-La Salle, kasi dream school ko talaga 'yun. Nakakausap ko pa nuon si Coach Ramil [de Jesus]. And naalala ko pa 'yung mga virtual call namin na kilig na kilig pa ako."
"Pero naisip ko rin that time na sobrang daming players ng DLSU, so baka hindi ako magamit. Dito sa NU konti lang, as in super konti. Hindi pa nga kami ata umaabot ng fourteen at the time. Ayun, sabi ko din nuon, if mag-champion ako sa DLSU normal na naman sa kanila. Pero dito sa NU, history! Ganern!" the feisty three-time UAAP MVP shared.
[ALSO READ: “Sana proud si Idward”: Bella Belen’s Twilight-core reign ends in memeable, MVP fashion]
GOAT connection
And she did make history in UAAP Season 84, leading that crop of NU Lady Bulldogs to a season sweep of 16-0 en route to their first women’s volleyball title in 65 years.
Belen cemented herself in UAAP lore, becoming the first women's volleyball player in league history to bag the Rookie of the Year and MVP award simultaneously, apart from a first best outside hitter plum in the seniors.
The last time there was a season sweep in women’s volleyball was back in 2015, when the Ateneo Blue Eagles swept through the competition for their second straight women’s volleyball title. And that was with the help of The Phenom, Alyssa Valdez.
When Belen entered the Smart Araneta Coliseum locker room on May 11, after the Lady Bulldogs put away the DLSU Lady Spikers in Game 1 of the finals, a familiar face was waiting for her in the hallway to exchange pleasantries.
Somehow it seemed destiny was written in the stars--a canon event.
Valdez and Belen were born on the same day--June 29th--just nine years apart.
And at the end of UAAP Season 87, they were in an exclusive club of three--sharing the distinction of being a three-time Most Valuable Player in the league.
Last few with National U
With all that is to come--the PVL draft, the Alas Pilipinas stint, and even more pressure-packed games in the pro level--it’s hard for this homegrown Lady Bulldog to not look back and relive the last eleven years in Sampaloc.
"I think for sure the number one thing I’ll cherish the most dito is 'yung samahan ko with my teammates. Hindi biro 'yung sila naging kasama ko halos kalahati ng buhay ko. Sila 'yung nakakita kung paano ako nag-grow as a person. Kung pwede lang ngang sila 'yung teammates ko habang-buhay, okay lang sakin. Kasi iba na 'yung naging samahan namin, mahirap nang pakawalan 'yun. And for sure 'yun 'yung babalik-balikan ko 'pag nag-[recall] na ako about my time and journey with NU," she shared.
It's not just about Belen's teammates. She's also proud how NU's following and support has grown over the last few years. Their meme game? Top tier.
"Before halos walang nanonood, mga friends and relatives lang namin. Pero ngayon grabe, sobrang dami na. Thankful ako sa lahat sa kanila kasi binibigyan nila kami ng time mapanood and masuportahan, which is also one of the reasons na nagbibigay sakin ng inspiration to always play better and with pride," she said.
If given the choice in another life, Belen would tread the same path over and over again.
And that includes the tough losses--such as the streak-ending loss to the UST Golden Tigresses in Season 85, the finals defeat to DLSU that same year, and the upset made by the UP Fighting Maroons as well as the Shaina Nitura-led Adamson Lady Falcons.
"For me, wala akong babaguhin, kahit pa 'yung talo namin in the Finals. Ayokong baguhin 'yun. Kasi kung hindi dahil sa mga bagay na 'yun, hindi kami titibay ng ganito. Everything happens for a reason, 'yan talaga ang mantra ko ever since," Belen shared.
There is one regret though.
"Kung pwede ko nga lang baguhin--and ito lang yun tanging bagay na babaguhin ko in all my years dito--is sana nalaro ko at natuloy 'yung UAAP Season 83 back in the pandemic, para man lang nakumpleto ko 'yung players ko with NU. Kasi masarap maglaro na pinaglalaban mo 'yung school mo," contemplated Belen, who recently graduated with a degree in Psychology.
[ALSO READ: Fresh graduate Bella Belen shares how her psychology degree helps during UAAP games]
What makes a three-time MVP?
That psychology degree proved to work wonders for the three-time MVP, especially in pressure-packed tight sets.
"May times in the middle of a game lalo na pag dikitan, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na, 'Bella, ito na. You need to step up, you need to score.' And dahil trinabaho ko naman lahat nito sa practice, kusa siyang lalabas. Lahat naman nito, stems from the preparation and mindset. Kung ano 'yung inisip kong mangyari, mangyayari dahil I put my heart, blood, sweat, and tears into it," she explained.
And being a student went beyond making reports and answering tests. She did her reps, she did her weights, and yes, she did her homework for volleyball too.
"After mag-scout, nag-seset rin ako ng personal goal ko: how many points dapat, anong efficiency, ilang digs, and receives? Sinusulat ko 'yun and babalikan ko after the game. Na-achieve ko ba or hindi? If not, sulat ko uli and try to hit it next game. Tinataasan ko sila, para ma-challenge ko yun sarili ko, yun level of play ko," she said.
No wonder Belen became a triple-double machine--doing so seven times this season alone.
So what's next for Bella?
Expect this quirky player to suit up more for Alas Pilipinas. The pro volleyball scene is also ready to welcome their new star. It's only the beginning.
[ALSO READ: What makes third UAAP title special for NU’s Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon?]
In between the "what haffen, Vella?", "soafer sikip", and jeje momintz, Belen has truly embodied being the MVP of this collegiate generation.
@onesportsphl "'YUN YUNG HINDI MAPAPALITAN NG KAHIT SINO." 🥹🫶🏻 Three-time MVP Bella Belen turned emotional as she reflected on her journey with the NU Lady Bulldogs, saying it’s not the championships she’ll remember most, but the bond and memories she built with her teammates that will stay with her forever. | via Xander Lauren Cipriano/One Sports #OSOnTheSpot #UAAPSeason87 #StrongerBetterTogether #LegendsStartHere #OneSports
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
No matter where she goes and where her volleyball career takes her, Bella Belen’s legend started here.