Bella Belen, the top overall pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft, expresses her gratitude to Capital1 through a video message. Belen is with Alas Pilipinas in the AVC Nations Cup in Vietnam.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — As expected, Bella Belen was the top overall pick in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft by Capital1 on Sunday night at Novotel.
Belen, the three-time UAAP MVP out of National University, missed the draft proceedings due to her commitment with Alas Pilipinas in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup in Hanoi, Vietnam.
READ: PVL Draft: Bella Belen is the no-brainer top selection
As expected, Capital1 selects three-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen as the top overall pick of the #PVLDraft2025 .@INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/oHdwF5QQW7
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) June 8, 2025
The 22-year-old Belen validated her status as the best player in a stacked rookie class, scoring 12 points off the bench to help Alas Pilipinas beat Indonesia and stay unbeaten in the tournament at 2-0.
The do-it-all outside spiker was with Alas and new Capital1 coach Jorge Souza De Brito and Leila Cruz, who was the Solar Spikers’ second overall pick last year and played an instrumental role in the 2024 Reinforced Conference quarterfinals appearance with Russian import Marina Tushova authoring the top three scoring records in the league.
READ: PVL: Gorayeb says Bella Belen ‘perfect fit’ for Capital1
Bella Belen, who is with Alas Pilipinas in Vietnam, expresses her gratitude to Capital1. #PVLDraft2025 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/LH9i41moQO
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) June 8, 2025
Capital1 banks on Belen to turn the franchise’s fortunes around. Belen certainly has what it takes to do just that having led the Lady Bulldogs to three UAAP championships. She also became the league’s first-ever Rookie-MVP in women’s volleyball.
The Solar Spikers, however, will have to wait for Belen, who is committed to join Alas during the national team period until October. She is also expected to make the final roster for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.
Eyeing a middle blocker, Galeries went with Jean Asis from Far Eastern University as the second overall selection.
Farm Fresh picked Alohi Robins-Hardy at No. 3 after the setter made it clear days before the draft that she will only play if she ends up with the Foxies.
Nxled, which ended up picking fourth despite having the best odds in the lottery, tapped Lyann De Guzman of Ateneo.
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