NEARLY a decade ago in the juniors ranks, Bella Belen had her first crack at the UAAP for the heralded NU-Nazareth School program.
There, she emerged a five-time champion and two-time league MVP.
With an active social media presence, Belen recently shared clips of some of her first-ever UAAP matches for the Jhocson side which she described as ‘late night finds.’
Among those snippets were against University of Santo Tomas — the same team she played her last UAAP seniors elimination round match against, as she and the Lady Bulldogs won in five sets.
READ: National U swats UST's shot at outright twice-to-beat advantage
Now a two-time MVP as well in the seniors ranks, the graduating National U captain shared with SPIN.ph how what could be her last few weeks as a Lady Bulldog have been filled with nostalgic trips down memory lane.
“Yun lang yung nakita kong clip, kasi nung high school po kami, wala namang live [broadcast yung high school games]. Hindi katulad ngayon," she said.
“Mga mother pa namin yung nagla-live, mga family pa namin. Yun lang yung nahagilap ko na nung first year po kasi, hindi naman ako starter agad.
“Siguro nung second round pa ko naging starter kasi si ate Jen [Nierva] pa that time yung spiker.”
Believe in Bella
Through the accolades and championships and all in between, Belen’s esteemed volleyball career has gone full circle.
Her humble beginnings, albeit shining with touches of gold, had a fair share of tribulations and jubilations that enabled one of the sport’s brightest stars to be born.
As she put it, “Mas mature na ako compared sa Bella na yun. Marami na rin akong pinagdaanan na ang laki ng naitulong kung nasaan man ako ngayon. Kumbaga yung life challenges, sobrang dami na talaga."
“I’m very thankful din kasi binigay sa akin yung challenge na yun, kung anuman yung mga yun, kasi hindi ako magiging Bella ngayon kung hindi ko napagdaanan yun.”
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