Mhicaela Belen

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.

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.

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

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

International Philippine women's national team