OF Bella Belen’s many firsts in her young pro career, going head-to-head with her longtime volleyball idol Ara Galang is one she can now check off the list — even if it came in a loss.
Belen’s 22-point outing went for naught in Capital1’s 25-27, 25-23, 12-25, 25-22, 13-15 defeat to Galang and the Chery Tiggo EV Crossovers on Tuesday, which halted the Solar Spikers’ two-game win streak in the home stretch of the Reinforced Conference preliminaries.
READ: Batista's 41 steers Chery Tiggo EV past Capital1 in five sets
For Galang, who once inspired a young Belen to dream big, the feeling of facing one of her sport’s new stars was just as meaningful.
“Isa rin talaga siya sa mga nilo-look up na players dito sa Philippines,” Galang told SPIN.ph.
“As a rookie, nakikita mo na palaban siya, at iba rin talaga ang diskarte ni Bella. Matalinong bata at parang madali lang ‘yung volleyball sa kanya, kaya happy ako na nagka-abot kami at nakatapat ko siya.”
At 30, the former De La Salle Lady Spiker remains a beloved figure in the local game — something she does not take lightly, especially with rising talents like Belen calling her an inspiration.
“Nakakataba ng puso na naa-acknowledge at nare-recognize ‘yung mga pinagtrabahuan ko for many years,” she said. “Nakakatuwa rin na nakikita nila na ‘yung efforts ko, nagbubunga naman.”
And with Belen only at the start of her PVL journey, Galang believes the rookie’s ceiling goes far beyond where she herself has reached.
“Rookie pa lang siya. Mahaba pa ‘yung career niya at marami pang opportunities na darating — hindi lang dito sa PVL, pati sa Alas at national team,” Galang said.
“Malayo pa mararating niya, for sure.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
