Bella Belen is primed to capture her third MVP crown as the veteran National University outside spiker will be handed the top individual award in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
The homegrown NU product collected 96.226 statistical points, which was a far cry from her closest pursuer in Adamson University star spiker Shaina Nitura, who had 74.259 SPs.
The first-year Nitura, though, will take home the Rookie of the Year award.
Belen, the first-ever Rookie MVP in the women’s division, finished fourth in scoring with 246 points but emerged as the top player in terms of efficiency with a 37.76 success rate. She also ruled the service category with 30 aces while also making her presence felt on defense, placing fifth in digs (2.79 per set) and third in receptions.
Belen will also earn her third Best Outside Spiker award alongside Angel Canino of De La Salle University. Amie Provido, another La Salle player, and Niña Ytang of the University of the Philippines will be named the Best Middle Blockers.
La Salle’s Shevana Laput will claim the Best Opposite Hitter while Lams Lamina will be named the Best Setter. Lyka De Leon, another La Salle player, will seize the Best Libero recognition to contribute to their school’s individual awards haul.
Photo: UAAP
On the men’s side, Kennedy Batas of Ateneo de Manila University will bag his first-ever individual plum as he will be named the Most Valuable Player for leading the show for the Blue Eagles.
The hard-hitting spiker amassed 79.815 statistical points, edging out La Salle’s Noel Kampton and the UST trio of JJ Macam, Josh Ybañez, and Popoy Colinares.
Macam will instead take home the Rookie of the Year award as both he and Batas will be recognized as the Best Outside Spikers. Colinares and Adamson University’s Leo Coguimbal will be named the Best Middle Blockers while Ateneo’s Amil Pacinio will cop the Best Opposite Spiker plum.
Rounding out the awardees are Dux Yambao as Best Setter and La Salle’s Menard Guerrero as Best Libero.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News