MONTALBAN, Rizal — One of the few silver linings for Bella Belen in her PVL debut as a pro was the chance to wear the number that propelled her to stardom.
Just like her bemedaled 11-year run with National U, one that ended with her jersey number 4 immortalized in Jhocson, Belen put up a 20-point, 18-dig, 12-reception triple-double straight away as if it was another day in the office for her back in the UAAP.
The only difference, perhaps, was that it didn't result to a win for Belen, as Capital1 fell to Choco Mucho in three close sets.
READ: Choco Mucho spoils Belen's Capital1 debut after three close sets
Not known to many was how Belen already came to terms with sporting a different number to mark a new chapter in her volleyball career.
Her arrival at Capital1 saw her taking the number 3 at first, with 4 already taken by mainstay winger Shola Alvarez.
Belen even took part in her first team photoshoots months ago wearing her new number, one that left fans curious as to why the top draft pick couldn’t claim her iconic number back.
But a sudden twist saw Capital1’s newest star find her way back to number 4 weeks before the 2025 PVL Reinforced Conference.
The story, as Belen shared to SPIN.ph, was quite overwhelming.
“Nagsukat kami ng training shirt. Nauna po kasi ako magsukat tapos nu’ng si ate Shola na ‘yung susukatan, bigla niya kong in-approach,” Belen said.
“Sabi niya na ‘Bel, sayo na ‘yung number 4.’ Ako naman, sabi ko, ‘hindi nga ate, okay lang.’ Ako naman, for me, wala talagang kaso kung anong number ko sa PVL since another chapter naman na siya.
“Closed na ‘yung last chapter ko sa UAAP pero I’m very thankful pa rin kay ate Shola na binigay niya sa’kin ‘yung number 4.”
While she might be wearing her college number again im the pros, there’s one part of that chapter she’s dead-set on leaving behind in the UAAP for good.
Young Bella once feared too much and was quite unsure of many things about her game.
There’s none of that anymore in the PVL version of Bella from here on out.
“May times kasi before nu’ng nasa NU ako, like Season 85 [na hindi kami nag-champion], na may takot pa ako sa mga galaw ko,” she said.
“Siguro ngayon, hindi na. Naiwan ko na siya sa UAAP kaya kailangan ko pa maging lalong palaban.
“‘Yung patience ko sa paglalaro du’n, iba na dapat ngayon kasi ibang level na ‘to eh. Hindi na katulad ng UAAP at lahat mas gusto pang manalo.”
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