Bella Belen had a historic collegiate career with three UAAP championships and as many as Season MVP trophies—including a historic first season three years ago when she became the league’s trailblazing women’s volleyball Rookie MVP.

To cap that, National University immortalized her No. 4 jersey, retiring it so no other volleyball player from the school’s program can wear the number again.

Now, the talented hitter will look to create an equally iconic legacy in the pros, where she will lead Capital1.

And Solar Spikers coach Jorge Souza De Brito, who also handles Belen at Alas Pilipinas, knows that the do-it-all outside spiker will reach greater heights.

“Since I arrived here in 2021, [I’ve seen her as] a promising and talented young player. She’s been proving how good she can be. [During that time] she was still growing, but she started really strong,” De Brito told the Inquirer.

Four years later, Belen ended her UAAP career, changing the landscape of collegiate volleyball, and also bringing big wins for the country as part of Alas Pilipinas’ runner-up finish in the Asian Volleyball Confederation Nations Cup and a pair of bronze medals in the SEA V-League.

“She is an all-around player, very smart and talented. She can receive, spike, serve and block—all on a very good level. Her history speaks for itself,” the Brazilian coach said.

“She really deserved all that she got. Now we will help her to achieve more and more in her pro life,” added the Capital1 coach.

The 23-year-old outside spiker missed the PVL on Tour due to the national team period. Capital1 had a winless preseason, but help is on the way in the import-laden Reinforced Conference.

“In Capital1, she will help us a lot, sharing her experience in her last stint with Alas. And more than her technical skills, she will bring her volleyball passion and her winning spirit,” De Brito said.

“Both of us are new at Capital1. We want to deliver our best to the team, trying to mix with other coaches, players, staff and all supporters. Our main goal for this coming season is to get better results than last year and make us proud as a team,” he added.

That result last year was Capital1’s breakthrough in the Reinforced, as Russian spiker Marina Tushova, who is now pregnant and happily married, led the expansion squad to a first quarterfinal appearance after breaking scoring records.

High expectations, veteran teams and prolific imports await Belen in her pro debut, but De Brito is confident that their top rookie will find a way to deliver.

“Bella has a large experience against international players … [S]he will also be supported by another good import and all Capital1 players. We are improving day after day as a team,” he said.