National University retires Bella Belen's #4 jersey. Photo by UAAP Season 88 Media Team
MANILA, Philippines – Bella Belen expressed her deep appreciation to National University (NU) for retiring her #4 jersey, and for shaping the collegiate volleyball legend we are all familiar with today.
Belen's jersey is officially going to the rafters of the NU main gym, as announced during the ceremony on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia.
Looking back at her 11-year run with NU, the five-time UAAP Most Valuable Player—two plums in high school, three in college—expressed that she wouldn't have reached this point in her career if not for the school and the people working behind the scenes to support her.
READ: UAAP: National University retires Bella Belen's #4 jersey
"For me, sobrang laki ng factor na nakapaglaro ako for NU for 11 years. Sila talaga 'yung naghulma kung ano ako ngayon, and kung nasaan man ako ngayon," she shared with select reporters.
"Sobrang happy talaga, as in. Kung pwede ko lang balikan lahat ng years na nilaro ko sa NU, gagawin ko. I'm very happy and thankful talaga with NU," she added.
Belen admitted that she still could not move on from her collegiate years, "relapsing" to what happened during her Lady Bulldogs era.
Aside from three individual top plums in the seniors level, Belen powered NU to three championships in Seasons 84, 86, and 87.
She also helped NU-Nazareth to five titles in the juniors division.
"Relapse pa rin ako palagi. Ang hirap iwanan at talikuran kasi parang half of my life or my career is with NU. So hindi siya gano'n kadali kalimutan talaga," she said.
Looking forward, Belen will step onto the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) stage next—and the 2025 Rookie Draft's number one overall pick could not be more excited.
READ: PVL: Bella Belen officially signs with Capital1
Belen, who was drafted by Capital1, denied that she's feeling any pressure as the top pick, only "excitement."
"Ako, mas more on excitement 'yung nafi-feel ko kaysa kinakabahan. Kasi 'yun nga, first ko sa PVL, so ako parang kailangan ko lang gawin kung ano 'yung ginagawa ko sa UAAP. Pero siyempre, alam naman natin na magkaiba 'yung competition sa UAAP and sa PVL," she said.
"So ako, kailangan ko lang mag-show up, gano'n. Parang ngayon, sa training, parang unti-unti kong kinikilala 'yung teammates ko, unti-unti kaming nagje-jell, so parang pagdating sa October, next month, liga, kumpleto, I mean maayos na 'yung team."
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