Bella Belen moves on, but NU’s unfinished chapter still her biggest “what if” 

For Bella Belen, greatness came early — and came often. Championships, MVPs, and a jersey retired before she even turned 24. Yet behind the medals and milestones, there remains a quiet ache, a story left half-told.

In the glitter of her transition to the pros, Belen’s shadow still lingers on the taraflex of the National University gym — a symbol of what was, and what could have been.

The unwritten last chapter

“Siguro na hindi ako nag-last playing year sa NU. Yun yung multo ko,” Belen confessed in an interview with Spin.ph.

Her tone wasn’t one of regret, but reflection. Despite a collegiate résumé that could stand as one of the most complete in UAAP history, she admits that her heart wrestled with the decision to leave early.

The 23-year-old already graduated in May, yet still had a final year of eligibility — a chance to wear the blue and gold one last time. It’s a path others chose to take: UST’s Detdet Pepito, Jonna Perdido, and UP’s Niña Ytang and Joan Monares all returned for one more tour.

For Belen, though, the road forked differently.

“Parang hindi naman siya negative. I mean, maganda rin yung pinatunguhan ko. Pero syempre, andun pa rin yung what if ko na what if naglaro ako for NU for the last time. So ayun.” 

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SYEMPRE, VELLAH NA ‘YAN OH

Capital1’s Bella Belen steals the spotlight with her charm and wit during her post-game interview as she bags her first-ever PVL Player of the Game in the 2025 Reinforced Conference.#PVL2025 #TheHeartOfVolleyball pic.twitter.com/wSB4B1phRc

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) October 31, 2025

Torn between legacy and growth

Being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 PVL Draft for Capital1 Solar Spikers was a dream in itself. But that moment of triumph masked weeks — maybe months — of internal tug-of-war.

“50-50 lang. Kasi grabe yung pagmamahal ko sa NU. Like, gusto ko talaga maglaro sa NU pa,” she admitted.

Her loyalty to NU was never in question. She had been there since the beginning of the Lady Bulldogs’ renaissance — leading them from underdogs to untouchables, setting the bar not just in performance, but in culture.

And yet, even loyalty must make room for growth.

“Siguro yung isa rin na nagpa-push sa akin na to go pro, syempre may mga bata. And I think kayang-kaya na naman nila yung UAAP ngayon. I mean, kaya nilang lumaban,” Belen said, her trust in NU’s next generation shining through.

“So yun, sabi ko I need to trust lang and believe din sa mga players na may iwan. So ayun, support-support na lang.”

The ghost that inspires

If there’s a ghost that follows Bella Belen, it’s not one that haunts — it guides. It’s the reminder of a player who gave everything, and still wonders if she could’ve given just a little more.

Her absence at NU will be felt, not as a void, but as a legacy — one that challenges the next batch of Lady Bulldogs to uphold a dynasty she helped build from the ground up.

So when the UAAP lights up again, and NU steps back onto the court without its cornerstone, Belen’s ghost will be there — not to mourn what’s lost, but to honor what remains.

Because sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones left unfinished.

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