Bella Belen leads UAAP women's volleyball MVP race

Bella Belen is leading the race for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the UAAP women's volleyball tournament after the first round. She plays for National University (NU) and helped the Lady Bulldogs achieve a perfect 7-0 record. Belen has a total of 159.600 statistical points, making her a strong contender for her third MVP title. Belen has impressive stats, ranking first in serving with 0.68 aces per set, sixth in digs, and fifth in receptions. Her performance was crucial in helping her team win all seven of their matches. She acknowledges that as they move into the second round, teams will adjust, and her team must continue to improve. Close behind Belen is Shevana Laput from La Salle with 157.692 points. Laput has led her team to a 5-2 record in the first round. Belen is also a frontrunner for the Best Outside Spiker award, currently leading with 303 points, ahead of her teammate Angel Canino. In the men's division, Kennedy Batas from Ateneo is leading the MVP race. He has 160.370 points and is a top scorer for his team, which has a record of 4-3. Batas is also in contention for the Best Opposite award. Rookie JJ Macam from UST is performing well, ranked second in the men's standings and leading the Rookie of the Year race. In various other categories, players from UST, La Salle, and FEU are also strong contenders, making the competition fierce as the tournament continues.