Bella Belen, Angel Canino share same sentiment

Despite their fierce rivalry from high school to the collegiate rank, National University star Bella Belen and ace winger Angel Canino of De La Salle University hope to someday don the same uniform and fight for a singular cause whether in a tour of duty for the national team or in a club.

The two trailblazers in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines women's volleyball are looking forward to the possibility of again becoming teammates following their stint with the national youth squad that saw action in the ASEAN School Games back in 2019. 

Belen and Canino led the Filipinas to a silver medal finish in the 11^th edition of the Games held in Semarang, Indonesia. 

"It's an honor to be teammates with Ate Bella and to other players that I also look forward to being teammates in the future," Canino said during the Collegiate Press Corps Awards Night last Monday at the Hummingbird Rooftop Bar in Quezon City.  

The 19-year-old open spiker was awarded the CPC Volleyball Player of the Year for the athletic year 2022-2023 following her impressive performance in leading the Lady Spikers to the Season 85 throne that ended a five-year championship drought.

Belen, on the other hand, was hailed Volleyball Player of the Year for 2021-2022 after rallying the Lady Bulldogs to a perfect championship run to end a 65-year title drought in Season 84.

The NU energizer also became the first-ever Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player winner in league history. 

Canino made the same feat the following season putting her and Belen in the elite club of volleybelles that took UAAP by storm in their respective tournament debuts.   

The two have always been pitted against each other since their high school days. They met again in Season 85 in four matches including a pair of thrilling and very entertaining five-set games in the best-of-three finals.

La Salle was able to survive both ferocious battles to serve a cold payback against its Season 84 finals tormentor.

Good friends outside the court despite having quite a few staredown contests and swag battles during the championship series, Belen expressed mutual respect in Canino's game. 

And just like her Lady Spiker counterpart, the winger would be honored to have Canino by her side on the same side of the court someday.     

"It's not uncommon for an athlete to wish to be teammates with a rival. Especially with someone as skilled and as good (as Angel)," Belen said during a light moment with her best buddy.

"Who wouldn't want to be teammates with (Angel)? Hopefully, it will happen soon," she added.

Aside from Belen and Canino, the CPC also honored National Collegiate Athletic Association standouts Mycah Go and Gayle Pascual of College of Saint Benilde.   

Go got the Volleyball Player of the Year award for 2021-2022 while Pascual was the recipient for the 2022-23 recognition after leading the Lady Blazers to back-to-back perfect seasons.