BELLA Belen has put together one of the most consistent scoring runs in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference preliminaries, and it has her right in the thick of a rare rookie-MVP conversation.
In just the second conference of her rookie season, the 23-year-old winger finished as the league’s top scorer with 218 points, leading a tight group that includes Trisha Tubu (189), Savi Davison (185), Sisi Rondina (178), and Brooke Van Sickle (175).
READ: Belen vows to keep fighting for Capital1 even after another exit
A big part of that was her game-to-game output where she scored at least 20 points in eight of nine matches, giving the Solar Spikers a steady offensive option throughout the prelims.
Outside of scoring, though, the leaderboard is largely defined by specialists.
Tubu leads all spikers with a 40.99 percent success rate, with Kianna Dy (37.74-percent) and Erika Santos (35.53-percent) also posting efficient numbers. Belen’s 35.16-percent keeps her within that group despite a heavier scoring workload.
In defense, Thang Ponce sets the pace with 4.71 digs per set, closely followed by Kath Arado at 4.61, highlighting the impact of liberos in controlling rallies.
Playmaking is led by Jia de Guzman, who averages 5.44 excellent sets per set, orchestrating offense at a level no one else has matched so far.
At the net, Riza Nogales (0.80 blocks per set) and Majoy Baron (0.79) pace the blocking race, underscoring the role of middle hitters in frontcourt defense.
Belen’s value comes from being present across those areas. Alongside her scoring, she ranks among the top receivers with 40.84-percent efficiency, just behind Alyssa Eroa (43.37-percent) and in the same range as Van Sickle (40.71-percent).
That all-around production stands out in a league where most leaders dominate only one category.
Deja vu?
Belen's first All-Filipino campaign in the PVL mirrors Belen's earlier run with National U, where she claimed rookie-MVP honors in UAAP Season 84 after leading the Lady Bulldogs to a season sweep and its first women’s volleyball title in 65 years.
This time, the team result is different, as Capital1’s campaign ended in the first phase of the play-in stage after a shock sweep to Galeries Tower.
Even so, Belen’s numbers place her alongside the league’s top performers across multiple categories, strengthening her case as one of the most impactful rookies in the conference.
Is Belen keen on earning that rare distinction again? Not necessarily.
If her numbers point towards her winning rookie-MVP again, then so be it. But in her view, it all comes as a byproduct of never being too satisfied with what she's already laid on the table.
"Ako naman kasi, hindi ako talaga nakukontento," Belen said.
"Every game, every conference, I feel like meron ako dapat laging inaangat na standard, hindi para sa ibang tao, kundi para sa sarili ko.
"From here, titignan ko pa ulit kung ano pa 'yung mga pwede kong ma-improve for the next conference and for the next tournaments pa with Capital1."
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.
