WHEN the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
And that was exactly what Bella Belen embodied as Capital1 snuffed out ZUS Coffee’s late surge to secure a four-set win and open its 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference campaign on a high note.
READ: Belen shows readiness in taking leadership role with Capital1
An explosive 11-point burst in the fourth set capped Belen’s best scoring night yet in the pros, finishing with 26 points, 16 digs and seven receptions.
All of that came in just the first game of her second conference as a professional player.
Even with a retooled Solar Spikers side now boasting far more offensive options than in previous conferences, there remains an unmistakable edge to Belen’s game: a killer instinct that surfaces precisely when the moment demands it.
Capital1’s new trio of Shaya Adorador, Ysa Jimenez and Pauline Gaston combined for 37 points, a clear sign that the scoring burden won’t rest solely on Belen’s shoulders moving forward.
Yet still, when the Thunderbelles threatened to flip the script in the fourth set, Belen knew it was time to take over.
After dropping the third frame by 10 points, Capital1 found itself under pressure again as ZUS Coffee unleashed a 10-1 run that brought them within striking distance of forcing a deciding set.
That was when the three-time UAAP MVP leaned on years of high-stakes championship experience honed in the collegiate ranks, flipping the switch and asserting control when it mattered most.
“‘Yung sa last set talaga, meron na kaming chance tapusin ‘yung laro kaso merong glimpse na talagang lumalaban si ZUS,” Belen said.
“Kapag binigyan pa namin sila ng chance, baka masilat pa sa’min ‘yung game na ‘to. So ako, kailangan i-push ko na kung ano pa ‘yung kaya ko pang gawin for this game.
“Ilalabas ko na lahat ‘yan. ‘Yung pagkakaroon ng killer instinct na ‘yun, nadala ko siya from NU hanggang ngayon sa PVL.”
For Capital1, it was a timely reminder that while help has arrived, Belen remains the closer who's ready to take charge when games are on the line.
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