SURVIVING BELLA
PLDT unleashed a 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference-high of 15 blocks, but it had to overcome Bella Belen’s pro career-best 28 points for Capital1 in pulling out a 25-20, 25-16, 22-25, 25-17 victory and stay unbeaten in two games on Thursday at the FilOil Centre in San Juan City.
The High Speed Hitters turned to Kianna Dy and Savi Davison, who scored 20 points each, to counter Belen’s best game thus far as the rookie continued to wow even opposing coaches, with PLDT’s Rald Ricafort calling her “Bella Bytsenko.”
Ricafort’s wards tried to check Belen, but the Capital1 rookie continued to shine this conference with 25.7 points in her first three games as Ricafort gave her that surname, likening the former National U superstar to the Solar Spikers import last conference, Sasha Bytsenko of Ukraine.
“That was really our focus today—to try and limit Bella,” Ricafort said in Filipino. “But of course, credit to her because the skill is really there. Her game is complete—passing, out-of-system plays. She even scored a lot from the back row. That’s just who she is, so we give that to her.
“The last time I congratulated her, I even called her ‘Bella Bytsenko.’ That’s the kind of season she’s going to have.”
Ricafort even went as far as saying that Belen could make history as the first Rookie-MVP of the league.
“For sure, she’s an MVP candidate this season,” the three-time PVL champion coach said.
Dy, who had 16 kills and four blocks, was impressed with the growth of her former national teammates when they represented the country together in the AVC Club Championship in 2021 before Belen went to the UAAP and became a Rookie-MVP and won the top individual plum thrice with three championships.
“Her shots are very tricky,” said Dy. “She has so many angles, so she’s really hard to block. You can see it in her 28 points. We prepared for her and we knew she’d get a lot of sets.
“I feel like she’s more mature now. She’s much calmer on the court and really leads her teammates,” added Dy. “Back when we were together in the national team years ago, she was still kind of young and playful. Now, she’s grown into a more mature, leader-type player.”
Own scouting
Belen does her own scouting, watching opposing teams’ defenses, which has been her routine since college, to make sure she can deliver for the Solar Spikers.
“I usually watch game film on my own. I’ve built that habit over the years—studying how teams move and play,” Belen said in Filipino. “As an open hitter, I know that when there’s no perfect pass, the ball usually goes to us. So I always anticipate that situation and think ahead—if we need a point, I have to step up.”
Belen learned from a tough PVL debut in last year’s Reinforced Conference, where she was limited to 13 points. She made sure to deliver more this time, only for Capital1 to slide to a 1-2 record with two consecutive losses.
“I still clearly remember the last time we faced them—they blocked me a lot,” Belen said. “So I told myself that if they do get a block or two this time, I can’t let it happen too often. I need to find ways to score more for the team.
“Of course, I can’t do that without my teammates—the coverage is there to support me,” she said. “We also studied PLDT. We know their advantage is their blocking because they’re tall and quick.”
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