After skipping the opening day of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Rookie Combine, Bella Belen is expected to show up on Day 2 of the event on Saturday at the Paco Arena.
PVL commissioner Sherwin Malonzo confirmed the three-time UAAP Most Valuable Player’s attendance following the conclusion of Day 1 activities, which featured 51 out of the 60 registered draft hopefuls.
“Si Bella [Belen], kausap ko ‘yung manager niya and she’s arriving daw tomorrow,” Malonzo said. “We’re expecting her to drop by tomorrow, ‘yun ang sabi sa’kin. Actually, balak ata humabol ngayon pero sabi ko baka matapos na by 4 [PM] saka ano naman, more of talks naman today.”
Belen missed the first day of the combine as she was in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, watching the final two days of the secondary girls’ volleyball tournament of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa.
According to Malonzo, her absence — along with that of eight other players including seasoned setter Alohi Robins-Hardy — meant missing the chance to be evaluated by PVL team coaches and scouts.
“Ang magiging effect lang is hindi sila nakita ng mga teams natin, mga coaches. So ang medyo crucial doon, if hindi kilala ‘yung player, sila ang mawawalan. Pero hindi natin sila tatanggalin [sa listahan],” he noted.
Despite the no-shows, the league remains hopeful that the remaining prospects, including Belen, will participate in Day 2, which will be more action-packed with a series of scrimmages in front of PVL team officials.
“Nasa 60 ‘yung nag-lista, but today, only 51 arrived. Late lang si Tia but the other nine, hopefully dumating sila tomorrow. We’re expecting them to arrive tomorrow,” Malonzo said.
Aside from physical drills, Day 1 featured two off-court workshops: media training and an orientation on contractual obligations for future professionals.
Malonzo also clarified that following the combine, each participant will receive an email asking them to confirm their intent to enter the draft or withdraw. The deadline for confirmation is set for June 4 at 12:00 PM.
#WATCH: PVL Commissioner Sherwin Malonzo gets a promise from Bella Belen — she’ll be there for the final day of the #PVLDraft combine this Saturday!
@jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/llXt17ToQ5
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 30, 2025
