By MARK REY MONTEJO
National University star Bella Belen is still the queen of UAAP volleyball.
In what could be a fitting end to a glorious collegiate career, Belen clinched her third Most Valuable Player award – a testament to her sustained all-around brilliance.
Belen, 22, accumulated 96.226 statistical points (SPs) to win the highest individual award in runaway fashion, beating rookie sensation Adamson’s Shai Nitura by a mile.
The top rookie tallied 74.259.
She finished fourth in scoring with 246 points and bested her rivals in attack efficiency with 37.76 percent success rate and in aces category where she tallied 30 to average 0.57 per set. She was fifth (2.79) and third (44.44) in digs and receptions departments, respectively.
For her feat, Belen joined the elite club of three-time MVP winners Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo and Far Eastern University’s Ailyn Ege.
Belen will be receiving her trophy with other winners this Wednesday, May 14, at Mall of Asia Arena, at 4:30 p.m. before she and the Lady Bulldogs plunge into action against De La Salle Lady Spikers in Finals Game 2.
Aside from MVP honor, Belen also took home the Best Outside Spiker recognition – her third – which she shared with Angel Canino of La Salle, who snared her second.
Nitura, 20, shattered several records, including six 30-point games and finishing with 371 points to help the the Lady Falcons finish with a 6-8 win-loss record at fifth spot.
On the other hand, the Best Middle Blocker awards are going to be shared by DLSU’s Amie Provido and University of the Philippines’ Niña Ytang.
La Salle’s Shevana Laput will be feted as the Best Opposite Spiker, while her teammate Lyka De Leon snared the Best Libero, beating University of Santo Tomas skipper and two-time award winner Detdet Pepito.
On the other hand, NU’s Lams Lamina emerged as the Best Setter as she edged UST’s Cassie Carballo.
For men’s honorees, Ken Batas (79.815) took the MVP plum as he stood above in a close race between him and La Salle’s Noel Kampton (74.906), UST’s JJ Macam (74.681), Josh Ybañez (74.255), and Poy Colinares (71.064).
Other winners are Macam (Rookie of the Year, Best Outside Spiker); Batas (Best Outside Spiker); Colinares and Adamson’s Leo Coguimbal (Best Middle Blocker); Ateneo’s Amil Pacinio (Best Opposite Spiker); UST’s Dux Yambao (Best Setter); and La Salle’s Menard Guerrero (Best Libero).
