Alessandro Lodi has never been one to mince words — and on Tuesday night, his blunt honesty echoed through the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
During Farm Fresh’s 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22 victory over Capital1 in the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference, the Italian coach’s fiery huddle turned heads after a second-set lapse from his team.
“This is what we get because Belen is killing you. Do we agree on that? She’s killing you, right?
“So we either go back into competitors’ mode or we’re gonna go home! Rightfully so. Make no mistake about it, she’s kicking your ass. So become a team, become a team that competes,” Lodi barked during the timeout, trying to shake his Foxies awake.
The emotional outburst wasn’t out of disdain — it was respect.
After Farm Fresh pulled off the four-set win to stretch its unbeaten run to 3-0, Lodi couldn’t help but marvel at Bella Belen’s brilliance, even if she was the one tormenting his defense.
Belen, the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft’s No. 1 overall pick, put up a monster all-around performance with 20 points built on 17 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. She also tallied 19-of-27 excellent digs — numbers that left Lodi in awe.
(C) PVL Images
“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,” Lodi said postgame.
“She doesn’t look overwhelming. It seems like nothing. 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 continued.
“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.”
For Lodi, Belen’s ability to produce at such a high level this early in her professional career is what makes her truly special.
While the former National University standout built a decorated collegiate résumé — as a three-time UAAP MVP and an eight-time champion between high school and college — the Farm Fresh mentor believes her early success in the PVL proves she’s built for the pros.
“She’s really good, and it’s not by accident. Because one time by accident, even I can play one time by accident and then score 25 points,” Lodi said with a laugh.
“But she does it all the time. So before it was UAAP, okay, she plays against nobody. Well, now it’s the pros, and so now she plays against people. So she’s really, really good and I hope she stays humble and she keeps working because she for sure has the tools to be really good for many, many years.”
