PVL: After career-game, Bella Belen still fueled by hunger to improve

ANTIPOLO — Capital1’s Bella Belen is keeping the fire by continuously seeking to improve.

Despite just posting her career-game, firing a whopping 35 points for a fourth-best individual scoring output in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) behind Tots Carlos (38 points), Alyssa Valdez and Savi Davison (37 points), Kat Tolentino, Brooke Van Sickle and Davison (36 points), Belen is not staying put — only looking forward on how to make her game better.

“Sa mindset ko na rin as a player, kasi every time maglalaro ako with my team, lagi kong iniisip kung paano ko mai-improve ‘yung game ko,” said Belen, who had 34 attacks and one block for her best PVL offensive game by far, while adding 20 digs and 19 receptions for an all-around impressive showing.

“So, gano’n naman palagi. I mean, ngayon sabihin na natin maganda ‘yung naging performance ko, I believe meron pa ring instances sa game na dapat kong ginawa, pero ‘di ko nagawa,” she added. “Lagi ko lang tinitingnan na meron pa ‘kong kayang i-improve.”

Adding fuel to her is the squad’s dismal performance last conference, where they did not reach the playoffs, although she was awarded Rookie of the Conference, and eventually the Rookie of the Year as seasonal honors.

“Ang lagi ko namang pinanghuhugutan is kung ano ‘yung nakamit namin last conference. Last conference, ‘di kami nakapasok [sa playoffs],” said Belen.

“So, I feel like we have a chance na maging mas maganda pa ‘yung performance namin compared last conference. I believe maganda naman pinapakita ng team, game-by-game, training-by-training.”

Coach Jorge de Brito was certainly pleased with the National University product’s performance — not just on the scoring feat, but with her leadership as well.

“Congrats for her. But, also, not only the score, not only the points, but the behavior inside the court, leading the team and making our team trust not only her, but the system, trust each one,” said de Brito.