Resiliency and brilliance— these are some of the things that consensus top overall pick Bella Belen can offer to the team who will choose her in the coming PVL rookie Draft.
After missing the first day of the Draft Combine due to other commitments, the three-time UAAP MVP showed up in Day 2 over the weekend at the Paco Arena in Manila where she offered a peek of her skills.
Belen, however, left early due to Alas Pilipinas national team duties.
The talismanic former National University leader is poised to be the No. 1 choice on June 8 as the Capital1 Solar Spikers are set to land the prolific spiker to bolster their line-up.
“Siguro (mai-o-offer ko) iyong pagiging hardworking ko. Kahit saan man akong mapuntang team, ibibigay ko talaga iyong best ko na matulungan kung saan man akong team (mapili) at matulungan kong mapanalo namin iyong games namin,” Belen said. “Iyon naman talaga iyong mai-o-offer ko, iyong sipag ko. Hindi ko siya iiwan sa NU kasi iyon iyong naging puhunan ko noong nasa NU ako. Iyon din po iyong magiging puhunan ko pagdating sa pro.”
The 22-year-old outside spiker affirmed her full decision to continue her volleyball career in the country.
“Yes po kasi siyempre, at the end of the day, nandito naman tayo sa Pilipinas. Pilipinas pa rin ang mamahalin,” she said. “Buo naman na po iyong loob ko na magpa-draft.
Hindi ko naman po iniisip na ako iyong magiging No. 1 pick since marami ring talented players na magpapa-draft. Hinihintay ko rin po kung sino man po iyong team na pipili sa akin. Hindi ko naman siya pride na ‘ay, No. 1 ako, ganyan.’ Hindi pa rin po.”
Belen insisted: “Iba pa rin po siyempre kasi may Combine para makita ka ng coaches and mga leaders ng PVL teams kung paano ka makipag-interact with other players.”
If stars aling for her and the Solar Spikers, Belen expressed excitement to work with veteran coach Roger Gorayeb who handled the likes of some of the country’s volleyball stars in Alyssa Valdez and Denden Lazaro-Revilla.
“Hindi ko na naabutan si coach Roger (Gorayeb) sa NU. Noong sakto kong pagpasok sa NU, iba na po iyong coach. Kumbaga, parang kakaalis niya lang po,” Belen said. “Kung sa kanya man po ako maglalaro, I’m very excited kasi marami pong dumaan kay coach Roger na magagaling na players like sila ate Alyssa Valdez, iyong mga from Ateneo, marami po sila, sina ate Denden.
“Marami po akong matututunan, actually sa lahat naman po ng coach sa PVL, marami po akong matututunan sa kanila kasi siyempre, skillful na po sila at marami na po silang experience.”
