When Bella Belen stepped onto the taraflex of the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday, it felt less like just another PVL match — and more like a homecoming.
It was here where she once reigned supreme — three UAAP championships, three MVP awards, and countless memories wearing the blue and gold of National University. But this time, the former Lady Bulldog wasn’t leading NU. She was donning Capital1’s orange and gold, ready to carve a new legacy in her rookie season with the Solar Spikers.
“Kahapon pa lang, niloloko na ako nila coach na home court ko daw,” Belen said with a laugh. “And then kahit kanina, sabi ni coach, ‘This is home court.’ Kung naalala ko daw ba yung—like, confetti kasi yun nga yung last game ko.”
That last game she remembered so vividly — the confetti, the cheers, the celebration — was barely six months ago, when she capped her collegiate career with another UAAP title. Walking through the same hallways, seeing the same tunnel she once ran through as NU’s leader, brought back waves of emotion.
“So siyempre, very nostalgic siya for me, kasi yun nga yung last game ko. Doon pa ako naka-dugout, sa NU na Bulldog dugout,” recalled Belen, the top overall pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft.
But nostalgia quickly gave way to business. Facing powerhouse Choco Mucho, Belen showed she could thrive on this stage no matter the uniform. The 5-foot-8 outside hitter fired 11 points before exiting in the third set due to cramps, helping Capital1 seal a straight-sets win, 25-23, 26-24, 25-19, and a top-three finish in Pool A of the 2025 Premier Volleyball League Reinforced Conference.
“So siyempre, maganda rin ngayon na ibang team na yung kasama ko na naglalaro. Pero siyempre, same pa rin yung fire—like yung pagka-love sa volleyball,” she said, smiling. “And I'm very happy talaga kasi pagkabalik ko sa MOA, panalo kami, and straight sets pa rin.”
