Top rookie winger Bella Belen is practicing patience while waiting for her release from national team duties to suit up for the Capita1 Solar Spikers in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL).
The No. 1 pick in the recent Draft and Alas Pilipinas mainstay could only join her club as a spectator and a cheerleader on the sidelines with the national team window in effect until October.
“Of course, I want to play for Capital1, but I still can’t as of now,” the decorated wing spiker said as she traveled with the Solar Spikers for the PVL On Tour in Montalban, Rizal last Saturday.
Belen, a three-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion and Most Valuable Player, could only watch helplessly as Capital1 absorbed a third straight defeat in as many outings in Pool B at the hands of Chery Tiggo, 25-20, 23-25, 12-25, 26-28, at the Ynares Center-Montalban.
“It’s just too bad I couldn’t play. I should’ve been there playing with them. But I know I need to wait for a little while since I have to be with the national team,” she said.
Belen and other Alas members have to skip the pre-season tournament, which falls within the national team window, as the league adheres to the FIVB calendar.
The National University standout did not participate in the 2025 VTV Cup following Alas’ historic silver medal finish in the AVC Nations Cup last month.
Belen’s much-awaited pro debut could come in the import-laden mid-season Reinforced Conference in October.
For now, the 23-year-old open spiker is working on integrating with Capital1’s system under Alas’ Brazilian coach Jorge De Brito and building chemistry with her teammates.
“Of course, I was shy at first, since I’m just coming off the UAAP and coming in late,” she shared.
The Solar Spikers took in three rookies from the Draft with Pia Abbu of University of Santo Tomas and Ivy Aquino of Asian Institute of Maritime Studies joining Belen.
“Pia (and Ivy) were already training when I came in. But slowly, I’m building chemistry with the team. They are all easy to work with and I know some of the players. Everyone’s nice,” Belen said.
While Belen is waiting for her turn to showcase her wares, her former college teammates, Sheena Toring of Creamline and Erin Pangilinan, have already made a huge impact for their respective clubs.
While happy that her NNU buddies are doing well with their PVL teams, Belen admits she’s still adjusting to being out of her comfort zone.
“It feels different. When we were in college, we were always together and lived in the same dorm. Now, we’re on our own. You’re just by yourself when you go back to your condo after training. You just have to take care of yourself and learn to live independently,” she said.
Belen is expected to go on another tour of duty when Alas competes in the two-leg Southeast Asian V.League in Vietnam and Thailand later this year as part of the national team’s buildup for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.