NU retires Belen's No. 4 jersey

MANILA, Philippines — Bella Belen’s unparalleled legacy has now been immortalized in the annals of Jhocson.

Considered as the greatest Bulldog ever, Belen’s No. 4 jersey rose to the rafters of National University Thursday after the team’s pep rally for a title retention bid in Season 88.

NU chairman Hans Sy led the jersey retirement ceremony for Belen at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay as the Lady Bulldogs usher in a new era without her and longtime partner Alyssa Solomon.

Also in the event were Lady Bulldogs team manager Engr. Bing Diet, NU president Dr. Renato Carlos Ermita, Jr., NU vice chairman Nilo Ocampo, and NU athletics director Otie Camangian.

Belen left a lasting legacy in NU, winning eight championships from high school to college laced by five Most Valuable Player Awards to cap one of the greatest runs not only for the Lady Bulldogs but in the entire UAAP history.

She was the first NU player in history to have her jersey retired and third in the women’s volleyball ever after La Salle’s Manila Santos (No. 14) and Far Eastern University’s Rachel Anne Daquis (No. 3).

No player can now wear her iconic jersey No. 4, just months after her graduation and selection as the No. 1 pick of Capital1 in the PVL.

The power outside spiker from Quezon City started her playing career with five titles in the UAAP juniors for NU-Nazareth School including a four-peat plus two Season MVPs.

Belen, also an Alas Pilipinas standout, etched more history in college by becoming the first-ever Rookie-MVP in women’s volleyball history as NU swept Season 84 in 2022 to snap a 65-year title drought.

NU then bowed to La Salle the next season but claimed redemption in winning back-to-back titles against Santo Tomas and modern day rival La Salle anew as Belen also notched two more MVPs for a fitting swan song without a single finals appearance miss.

Belen’s three MVP awards in women’s volleyball is tied with Alyssa Valdez of Ateneo and FEU’s Ailyn Ege for the most in history. She’s also a one-time MVP in the Shakey’s Super League, ruled by NU for three straights years and counting.

Without Belen, huge responsibility is now on Regine Diego who’s set to be announced as the new head coach starting in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup on Sept. 20 with a four-peat bid on the line for the Lady Bulldogs.

Diego, whose last head coaching stint was with the defunct F2 in the PVL, will take over from Sherwin Meneses, who steered NU to the UAAP Season 87 championship and the SSL National Invitationals Davao leg last month.

A seven-time champion with Creamline in the PVL, Meneses and NU parted ways in good terms, according to the grizzled mentor’s wife after the expiration of the one-year deal he signed last season.

“Just to set the record straight, he only signed a one-year contract with NU, which has now concluded. There is no issue or conflict with the NU management. He holds the institution and its leadership in the highest regard.”

Diego, for her part, served as the team’s assistant manager in last season’s championship conquest before inheriting the coaching duties this year in her NU return after coaching the NU-Nazareth School in the UAAP juniors in 2019.

She’s the fourth NU mentor in five seasons after Carl Dimaculangan, Norman Miguel and Meneses.

The volleyball coaching change in NU women’s volleyball came just a month after reigning champion NU women’s basketball mentor Aris Dimaunahan stepped down from his post with long-time DA Olan as his replacement.