Before she became one of the most dominant forces in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) women’s volleyball scene, Bella Belen was already building a legacy.

Her journey began in the girls' division, where she helped lead National University (NU) to four titles and a runner-up finish, earning multiple individual awards along the way, including two Most Valuable Player (MVP) titles and a Best Outside Hitter citation.

She carried that winning tradition into the seniors’ level, where she became the league’s first-ever Rookie-MVP and added two more championships and another pair of Best Outside Hitter honors to her name.

But for the 22-year-old standout, the most fulfilling milestone of her student-athlete life didn’t happen during a game. It took place on Friday, when she officially earned her psychology degree during NU’s 119th commencement exercises.

Belen marched proudly alongside fellow seniors and teammates Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan, a moment that marked not just the end of their college journey, but the triumph of balancing sports and studies under the spotlight.

“I’m very happy because getting a diploma is no joke for a student,” Belen shared.

“Of course, that’s something we, as student-athletes, really want to achieve because it’s not easy. There are people who think we only pass because we’re athletes — but we study, we stay up late, we work hard. That’s why I’m so happy that I finally got my diploma from NU.”

The emotional high carried over to the court.

On Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Belen recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 15 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions in the Lady Bulldogs’ Game 1 victory over De La Salle University, 25-17, 25-21, 13-25, 25-17, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball finals.

“Every season, the competition keeps getting tougher because the level of play in volleyball continues to rise,” she said.

“That’s why you really need to be disciplined and learn how to manage your time. It’s not impossible, even if you're a student-athlete with a packed training schedule. You just have to set your priorities so that one day, you can graduate, too.”