After a debut that was scrapped from the record books, Bella Belen finally lived her long-awaited Premier Volleyball League debut — and it came against the very team she had long admired.
The top overall pick of the 2025 PVL Draft faced PLDT — the very team she once hoped of joining — as she officially suited up for Capital1 in their Reinforced Conference opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Although Belen initially took the court last week, the league later decided to replay the opening-day games after teams played without their foreign reinforcements due to pending International Transfer Certificates.
This made Monday’s clash against the High Speed Hitters her first official PVL appearance.
Though the Solar Spikers absorbed a tough 22-25, 20-25, 23-25 loss to PLDT, the former National University star couldn’t help but feel grateful for the experience of going up against the squad she had admired.
“I’m very happy na… Hindi man ako sa kanilang napunta, nakalaban ko sila,” said Belen. “And grabe, ang dami kong natutunan this game na pwede kong baguhin and pwede kong ma-apply next game. So, ayun, ano lang. I’m very happy talaga na nakatapat ko sila.
“Ayun nga, medyo close-close. Kasi lalo na ‘yung mga coaches, ganyan. So, ayun. Happy lang po,” she added with a smile.
(C) PVL Images
In a One Sports “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit last February, Belen was asked which team she would have chosen if the PVL Draft system weren’t in place. She answered the High Speed Hitters, explaining that she believed she would fit perfectly with the team’s system.
The three-time UAAP MVP shared that she learned plenty from the matchup against the High Speed Hitters, noting how the game served as a reminder of the need to adjust quickly to different defensive looks thrown her way.
Belen admitted that even as a rookie, she’s aware that teams have already begun to study her tendencies closely — making adaptability and composure key to her growth at the pro level.
“Ako naman po, expected ko talaga yun na… Lalo na matatangkad sila. And ano talaga sila eh, blocking team. Kahit din sa mga nakaraang conference. Kumbaga, asa sa akin din kung paano ako mag-adjust,” said Belen.
“And kanina sa game, parang medyo late na ako nag-adjust dun sa attacking style ko. And ayun, siguro yun din yung babaguhin ko next game. Na kailangan umpisa pa lang ng game, marunong na akong magbasa ng kalaban. Like, kailangan alam ko na kung kailan ko papaluin sa ganito, papaluin sa ganyan. Kasi ngayon, yung teams, mabilis talaga mag-adjust,” she added.
Belen finished with 13 points, all from attacks, to go along with nine excellent digs, but she believes she still has a lot left to show as she continues to find her rhythm and adjust to the level of play in the pros.
“Siguro challenge din siya for me. Na kahit rookie ako, kailangan itaas ko pa yung level ng paglalaro ko. Kasi hindi basta-basta yung PVL talaga,” she said.
“Lahat ng teams nagsa-scout, maraming data. So ako, nasa sa akin kung paano ko i-challenge siguro yung sarili ko. Kung paano ko mag-adjust in-game.”
#WATCH: Bella Belen finally faced her “dream team,” PLDT 🏐
📹 @jonashdcd /Tiebreaker Times#PVL2025 pic.twitter.com/M2KT4TBDpL
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) October 13, 2025
