Mhicaela "Bella" Santos Belen is a Filipino volleyball player. She is currently playing as an outside hitter for Alas Pilipinas, a former NU Lady Bulldog and is now a new recruit of the Capital1 Solar Spikers.
Early life and education Bella Belen was born on June 29, 2002, in Manila, Philippines.
Belen studied high school at Nazareth School until 2020, before moving up to the institution's affiliate college National University where she obtained a psychology degree in May 2025.
Career High school Belen entered the Nazareth School,the high school department of the National University (NU), in 2014. However it was only in UAAP Season 78 when she would play for the NU Lady Bullpups. The team won the girls title on that season, the second consecutive title.
In Season 80 in 2017, Belen earned her first MVP award. Nazareth's title streak ended in a Season 81 when they lost to De La Salle Santiago Zobel School. In Season 82, they reclaimed the title with an undefeated 12–0 record. Belen was named best outside hitter and was given her second MVP award.
College Belen aspired to attend the De La Salle University (DLSU) and was in contact with the school's coach Ramil de Jesus. However, Belen decided to go with the National University instead citing concerns of having to compete for playing time with other DLSU players. In 2022, Belen joined the NU Lady Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs in Belen's inaugural year won the title in the UAAP Season 84 after 65 years of title drought with a perfect 16–0 season sweep. She was also conferred the Best Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards becoming the first woman in the history of the UAAP women's volleyball to receive both awards in the same season. In addition, she made a record as she scored eight service aces, the most services aces in a match in the UAAP women's division, against UP to tie Dzi Gervacio's eight in Ateneo's win coincidentally also against UP in UAAP Season 75 volleyball tournaments in 2013.
Belen and her teammates tried to defend their championship title, but ended with a runner-up finish in the UAAP Season 85, where they lost to the De La Salle Lady Spikers in the finals.
In 2024, Belen led her team to reclaim the title in the UAAP Season 86 after they swept the UST Golden Tigresses in a Finals Series. She also reclaimed the Most Valuable Player and 1st Best Outside Hitter awards in the same season, making her a two-time UAAP MVP.
In 2025, Belen became the team captain for the NU Lady Bulldogs. The Bulldogs won their second consecutive title, defeating the DLSU Lady Spikers in the finals series of UAAP Season 87. She also became a three-time UAAP MVP. Only Monica Aleta and Alyssa Valdez are the other women's volleyball players to be given the same recognition thrice. In recognition of her efforts, NU retired her jersey number 4 in September, making her the first NU player and the third player in a UAAP school to receive the honor, following Rachel Daquis of Far Eastern University and Manilla Santos of DLSU.
Club While still a high schooler, Belen played for the BaliPure Purest Water Defenders at the 2018 Reinforced Conference of the Premier Volleyball League along with Alyssa Solomon.
In 2021, Belen played for the Philippines national team which competed under the club name "Rebisco" in the Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship. The team finished last place.
Belen later returned to the PVL in 2025, now as a fully functioning professional league in the Philippines, where she got drafted to the Capital1 Solar Spikers as the No.1 overall PVL Draft Pick. She made her debut for Capital1 at the 2025 Reinforced Conference. Shola Alvarez gave Belen the right to wear jersey No. 4, the same number Belen wore in college.
National team Belen has been part of the Philippines national team which played at the 2023 and 2024 SEA Women's V.League She also played at the 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup.
Amidst disputes involving the PNVF, Belen begged off from national team duties in 2026, skipping the upcoming 2026 AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup amongst other scheduled competitions.
Personal life Belen also has a younger sister named Ghenievib, who is a current member of NSNU Bullpups and plays libero just like she did.
Clubs BaliPure Purest Water Defenders (2018) Rebisco Philippines (2021) Capital1 Solar Spikers (2025–present)
Awards Individual YearLeagueAwardRef 2018UAAP S80(Junior's)MVP (Season)2020UAAP S82(Junior's)MVP (Season)1st Best Outside Hitter2022UAAP S84(Women's)MVP (Season)Rookie of the Year1st Best Outside HitterSSLPre-Season2nd Best Outside Hitter2023SSLPre-Season1st Best Outside Hitter2024S86(Women's)MVP (Season)1st Best Outside HitterSSLInvitationalsMVP (Season)1st Best Outside HitterSSLPre-SeasonMVP (Season)1st Best Outside Hitter2025UAAP S87(Women's)MVP (Season)1st Best Outside Hitter Best Server Exceptional Player2026PVLAll-Filipino Rookie of the Year 1st Best Outside Hitter
High School YearLeagueSeasonTitleRef2015 UAAP77 Champions 2016 UAAP78 Champions 2017 UAAP79 Champions RVL girls' U18 Champions 2018 UAAP80 Champions 2019 UAAP81 Runner-up NCR Palaro Champions Palarong Pambansa Champions 2020 UAAP82 Champions
Collegiate YearLeagueSeason/ConferenceTitleRef2022UAAP84 ChampionsSSLPre-Season Champions2023UAAP85 Runner-UpSSLPre-Season Champions2024UAAP86ChampionsUNIGAMESPre-SeasonChampionsSSLInvitationals ChampionsPre-Season Champions2025UAAP87Champions
International Philippine women's national team YearLeagueTitleRef2019ASEAN School Games Runner-up2024SEA V.League1st Leg 3rd place2nd Leg 3rd place2025AVC Women's Nation Cup Runner-upSEA V.League1st Leg 3rd place2nd Leg 3rd place
References
External links Bella Belen at the FIVB volleyball database