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Capital1's prized rookie Bella Belen and Farm Fresh coach Alessandro Lodi. PVL Media Bureau
MANILA — Capital1 rookie Bella Belen earned profuse praise from Farm Fresh coach Alessandro Lodi after their team's encounter in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) Reinforced Conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Belen, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft, has continued to live up to expectations in just her first tournament in the professional league.
In the words of Lodi, Belen is a "one of a kind" player that has a lot in her arsenal.
Despite not having the "extreme physicality," Belen has a "phenomenal consistency" that could make her "good" for years to come, the Italian coach also said.
"Well, I don't know what I can add about [Bella] Belen that has not been said yet. But from my perspective, and maybe I have a little more insight or I understand the game a little better than many, she is kind of one of a kind," said Lodi.
Belen scored 20 points against Lodi's team, but the Foxies still emerged victorious, 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22, at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
"She doesn't look overwhelming. It seems like nothing. It seems she's doing nothing because she's not over the block. She's not extremely physical, but she damn knows what she's doing with the ball," he said.
"She has ball control that is exceptional, she has a thousand shots, and she frustrates people because when you have somebody hitting over the block, there is little to be frustrated about," he added.
Lodi said the National University (NU) product is crafty enough to create solutions on the court.
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"[S]he plays better volleyball. So ultimately to play volleyball you need to be better at playing the game. You can be taller. There are some examples both in the men's and the women's game of players that were not the most physical, not the most overwhelming or that would appear spectacular, but phenomenal consistency, lots of tools, lots of shots, lots of solutions, and they could do what they wanted with the ball," Lodi said.
"And she's on her way to becoming that. So she's really good and it's not by accident."
Lodi has these wishes for Belen as she thrives in the professional scene: be humble and keep working to stay good.
"Before it was UAAP, okay, she plays against nobody. Well now it's the pros, and so now she plays against people. So she's really, really good and I hope she stays humble and she keeps working because she for sure has the tools to be really good for many, many years," he said.
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