Bella Belen

Filipino volleyball player (born 2002) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mhicaela "Bella" Belen is a Filipino volleyball player. She is currently playing as an outside hitter for Alas Pilipinas, a former NU Lady Bulldog and is now a new recruit of the Capital1 Solar Spikers.[1]

Born (2002-06-29) June 29, 2002 (age 23)
Manila, Philippines
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Spike287 cm (113 in)
Quick facts Personal information, Born ...
Bella Belen
Personal information
Born (2002-06-29) June 29, 2002 (age 23)
Manila, Philippines
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Spike287 cm (113 in)
Block294 cm (116 in)
College / UniversityNational University
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter
Current teamCapital1 Solar Spikers
Number4
Career
YearsTeams
2018BaliPure Purest Water Defenders
2021Rebisco (AVC)
2025–Capital1 Solar Spikers
National team
2023–Philippines
Honours
Women's volleyball
Representing  Philippines
Asian Nations Cup
Silver medal – second place2025 HanoiTeam
SEA V.League
Bronze medal – third place2024 Vĩnh Phúc / Nakhon RatchasimaTeam
Bronze medal – third place2025 Nakhon Ratchasima / Ninh BìnhTeam
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Early life and education

Bella Belen was born on June 29, 2002 in Manila, Philippines.[2] [3] Belen studied high school at Nazareth School until 2020,[4][5] before moving up to the institution's affiliate college National University where she obtained a psychology degree in May 2025.[6]

Career

High school

Belen entered the Nazareth School,the high school department of the National University (NU), in 2014. However it was only in UAAP Season 78 when she would play for the NU Lady Bullpups. The team won the girls title on that season, the second consecutive title.[4]

In Season 80 in 2017, Belen earned her first MVP award. Nazareth's title streak ended in a Season 81 when they lost to De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. In Season 82, they reclaimed the title with an undefeated 12–0 record. Belen was named best outside hitter and was given her second MVP award.[4]

College

Belen aspired to attend the De La Salle University (DLSU) and was in contact with the school's coach Ramil de Jesus. However, Belen decided to go with the National University instead citing concerns of having to compete for playing time with other DLSU players.[4] In 2022, Belen joined the NU Lady Bulldogs.[7]

The Bulldogs in Belen's inaugural year won the title in the UAAP Season 84 after 65 years of title drought with a perfect 16-0 season sweep.[8][9] She was also conferred the Best Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards becoming the first woman in the history of the UAAP women's volleyball to receive both awards in the same season.[10] In addition, she made a record as she scored eight service aces, the most services aces in a match in the UAAP women's division, against UP to tie Dzi Gervacio's eight in Ateneo's win coincidentally also against UP in UAAP Season 75 volleyball tournaments in 2013.[11]

Belen and her teammates tried to defend their championship title, but ended with a runner-up finish in the UAAP Season 85, where they lost to the De La Salle Lady Spikers in the finals.[12]

In 2024, Belen led her team to reclaim the title in the UAAP Season 86 after they swept the UST Golden Tigresses in a Finals Series.[13] She also reclaimed the Most Valuable Player and 1st Best Outside Hitter awards in the same season, making her a two-time UAAP MVP.[14][15]

In 2025, Belen became the team captain for the NU Lady Bulldogs. The Bulldogs won their second consecutive title, defeating the DLSU Lady Spikers in the finals series of UAAP Season 87.[16] She also became a three-time UAAP MVP. Only Monica Aleta and Alyssa Valdez are the other women's volleyball players to be given the same recognition thrice.[17] In recognition of her efforts, NU retired her jersey number 4 in September, making her the first NU player and the third player in a UAAP school to receive the honor, following Rachel Daquis of Far Eastern University and Manilla Santos of DLSU.[18]

Club

While still a high schooler, Belen played for the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders at the 2018 Reinforced Conference of the Premier Volleyball League along with Alyssa Solomon.[19][20][2]

In 2021, Belen played for the Philippines national team which competed under the club name "Rebisco" in the Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship. The team finished last place.[21][22]

Belen later returned to the PVL in 2025, now as a fully functioning professional league in the Philippines, where she got drafted to the Capital1 Solar Spikers as the No.1 overall PVL Draft Pick.[23] She made her debut for Capital1 at the 2025 Reinforced Conference.[24] Shola Alvarez gave Belen the right to wear jersey No. 4, the same number Belen wore in college.[25]

National team

Belen has been part of the Philippines national team which played at the 2023 and 2024 SEA Women's V.League[26][27] She also played at the 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup.[28]

Personal life

Belen also has a younger sister named Ghenievib, who is a current member of NSNU Bullpups and plays libero just like she did.[29]

Clubs

Awards

Individual

More information Year, League ...
Year League Season Award Ref
2018 UAAP 80
(Junior's)
MVP (Season) [30]
2020 82
(Junior's)
MVP (Season) [31]
1st Best Outside Hitter
2022 84
(Women's)
MVP (Season) [32]
Rookie of the Year
1st Best Outside Hitter
SSL Pre-Season 2nd Best Outside Hitter [33]
2023 Pre-Season 1st Best Outside Hitter [34]
2024 UAAP 86
(Women's)
MVP (Season) [35]
1st Best Outside Hitter
SSL Invitationals MVP (Season) [36]
1st Best Outside Hitter
Pre-Season MVP (Season) [37]
1st Best Outside Hitter
2025 UAAP 87
(Women's)
MVP (Season) [35]
1st Best Outside Hitter
Best Server
Exceptional Player [38]
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High School

More information Year, League ...
Year League Season Title Ref
2015 UAAP 77
(Junior's)
Champions
2016 UAAP 78
(Junior's)
Champions
2017 UAAP 79
(Junior's)
Champions
RVL girls' U18 Champions
2018 UAAP 80
(Junior's)
Champions
2019 UAAP 81
(Junior's)
Runner-up
NCR Palaro Champions
Palarong Pambansa Champions
2020 UAAP 82
(Junior's)
Champions
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Collegiate

More information Year, League ...
Year League Season/Conference Title Ref
2022 UAAP 84 Champions [39]
SSL Pre-Season Champions [40]
2023 UAAP 85 Runner-Up [41]
SSL Pre-Season Champions
2024 UAAP 86 Champions
UNIGAMES Champions
SSL Invitationals Champions
Pre-Season Champions
2025 UAAP 87 Champions
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International

Philippine women's national team

More information Year, League ...
Year League Title Ref
2019 ASEAN School Games Runner-up
2024 SEA V.League 1st Leg 3rd place [42]
2nd Leg 3rd place [43][44]
2025 AVC Women's Nation Cup Runner-up
2025 SEA V.League 1st Leg 3rd place [45]
2nd Leg 3rd place [46][47]
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References

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