Bella, other stars excited for All-Star Game revival
Capital1 rookie Bella Belen, arguably the most exciting player ever to enter the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) in years, is looking forward to the Volleyball All-Star Showcase—the league’s first All-Star event in the professional era—set on May 1 in Candon City.
The top overall pick of the last Draft, who left a glittering UAAP career and is on track to chart a rookie year never before seen in the pro league, couldn’t hide her excitement when asked about the upcoming All-Star event for the PVL and Spikers’ Turf.
“I saw the All-Star announcement. It’s the first time in the pros, right?” Belen asked reporters in Filipino.
The 23-year-old Solar Spiker, the league’s current league scorer with 195 points off 177 kills, eight blocks and 10 aces, is ready to do everything for the fans, who will have a huge part in this upcoming star-studded spectacle, with Sports Vision to announce the mechanics and format in the coming days.
“I’m very happy that we’ll have one,” she said. “And if ever I make it (to a team), do you also want me to be a referee? I might give you a yellow card even before we get there.”
Belen’s supporters, since her illustrious collegiate career with National University, where she won three titles and as many as season MVP awards, have followed the journey of the young do-it-all spiker, who has a chance to be an All-Star, which was last staged in 2019 when she was still in high school.
“This is for the fans. For sure, they have players they’d like to see playing together on one team, so this is their chance to see that dream happen,” she said.
Fans get a treat
Kianna Dy, a fan favorite from PLDT, is also excited for the people of Candon.
“I guess it’s also good for the fans who can’t travel to Manila,” Dy said. “They’ll get to experience the games that usually happen here in Manila. It’s nice to bring the event to Candon, and I think it’s going to be a fun event since it will be the first time it’s happening there.”
Cignal’s spiker-libero duo of Vanie Gandler and Dawn Catindig were also elated for the league bringing back the event, seeing it as a chance for the PVL players to have the same experience as the PBA stars recently in Candon.
“It’s going to be fun, of course, especially if we get to be part of it,” Gandler said. “We’ll have the chance to play with other players from different teams. For sure, it will be a fun experience, just like the PBA,” Gandler said.
Catindig agreed: “It’s a way of giving back to the fans—for them to see their volleyball idols. And maybe to show them a different side of us.”
