Virgilio Lorenzo Jr

PVL: Belen proud to see Lamina go first overall in Rookie Draft — 'Deserve niya talaga'

Article (news)

John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Bella Belen beamed with pride as she saw former National University (NU) teammate Lams Lamina picked first overall in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft.</p><p>Belen, also last year&#x27;s top pick, is excited to see what the two-time UAAP seniors Best Setter can show in the professional league.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/6/3/pvl-lamina-goes-number-one-overall-in-rookie-draft-2052"><strong>READ: PVL: Lamina goes number one overall in Rookie Draft</strong></a></div><p>&quot;Excited din ako makalaban si Lams kasi siyempre, all this time siya &#x27;yung kasama ko sa loob ng court and ngayon na nasa PVL na siya. Excited ako makita kung ano pa &#x27;yung pwede niyang ma-improve pa as an athlete, and ano &#x27;yung pwede niyang madala sa PVL,&quot; said Belen.</p><p>&quot;Excited na rin ako kung paano ako magpe-perform &#x27;pag siya &#x27;yung kalaban ko.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Lams, stare down ka sa &#x27;kin, charot!&quot; Belen added in jest. &quot;Masaya lang ako for Lams kasi deserve niya talaga maging first pick.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/6/4/who-went-where-the-2026-pvl-rookie-draft-0002"><strong>READ: WHO WENT WHERE: The 2026 PVL Rookie Draft<br/></strong></a></div><p>This also marked another National University Nazareth School product go first in the proceedings, as Thea Gagate, who also played as a Lady Bullpup, was also the top selection in the inaugural edition in 2024.</p><p>&quot;Siguro hindi ko ma-explain, pero siguro masaya lang na isa sa mga volleyball program na umaangat is &#x27;yung NU. And sana magtuloy-tuloy, kumbaga hindi lang hihinto &#x27;yung programa ni NU, and sana marami pang ma-produce na magaling na players &#x27;yung NU,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/6/4/pvl-no-1-pick-lamina-up-for-the-challenge-of-helping-galeries-tower-0014"><strong>READ: PVL: No. 1 pick Lamina up for the challenge of helping Galeries Tower<br/></strong></a></div><p>Belen was also thrilled to reunite with elementary teammate Detdet Pepito in the PVL.</p><p>&quot;Siyempre masaya, kasi alam ko naman kung ano &#x27;yung kakayanan ni Detdet. And alam kong marami siyang matutulong sa team namin, kasi &#x27;yung huli ko pa siya naging teammate is elementary — ay hindi national team kami nung parang post pandemic era. Masaya lang ako na nabigyan kami ulit ng pagkakataon na maging teammates ulit.&quot;</p>

<p>Bella Belen is beaming with pride as she saw former National University (NU) teammate Lams Lamina picked first overall in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft.</p>

Bella Belen is beaming with pride as she saw former National University (NU) teammate Lams Lamina picked first overall in the 2026 PVL Rookie Draft.