NU’s Bella Belen smiles during a UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball game.-Belen was taken first overall by Capital1 in the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft – UAAP PHOTO

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

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

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.