Another one of Bella Belen’s wishes came true on Wednesday night as Capital1 selected UST libero Detdet Pepito with the second overall pick in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft, reuniting the former teammates at the professional level.

Belen had earlier seen one of her wishes fulfilled when the Solar Spikers signed reigning PVL MVPs and former Cignal stars Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos earlier in the offseason. Now, she has realized another, with Pepito—her former elementary teammate and close friend—officially getting drafted and beginning her PVL journey, bringing their shared path full circle at the professional level.

Indeed, things continue to fall into place for the once-rebuilding Capital1, as the team keeps adding key pieces to its young core in a move that could elevate it into contender status in the coming seasons.

For Belen, it feels like everything is meant to be.

“Siguro meant to be rin para sa amin ‘yung mga hinihiling ko,” said Belen.

“And thank you, Lord, thank you, Lord. Ayun, siguro meant to be lang talaga sila para sa Capital1.”

(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team

But while the Solar Spikers now boast an upgraded and promising roster, Belen stressed that talent on paper is one thing, and execution on the court is another, noting that it will ultimately be up to the team to put everything together.

“Since marami na kaming recruit this year, hopefully mas maganda yung team composition namin now, and siyempre hindi naman porket naka-recruit kami ng talented na players ay magiging madali na—training pa rin and chemistry pa rin,” said the 23-year-old outside hitter.

“Volleyball is a team effort talaga. Excited lang ako sa magiging journey ng Capital1.”

Belen also reflected on finally teaming up with Pepito, saying they never expected to reach this point when they were younger during what they jokingly referred to as their “jejemon days,” but are grateful that their hard work over the years has paid off.

She added that she is beyond excited to finally share the court with Pepito after years of fierce UAAP battles.

“Siyempre, noong mga panahon namin na ‘yun, noong jejemon pa kami, hindi namin in-expect na aabot kami sa ganitong lagay kung nasaan kami ngayon. And sabi ko, ‘yun nga, nagka-draft na eh, so may chance talaga na magka-teammate kami ulit, pero hindi ganun kalaki,” said Belen.

“So ngayon, sobrang happy ako na teammates ulit kami ni Detdet. Excited na ako kung paano na kami ngayon na hindi na kami jejemon, ’di siguro mas matured and mas marami na kaming lessons from past years namin as a player.”

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After being selected 10th overall by Galeries Tower in the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft, former Far Eastern University middle blocker Ann Asis is ready to bring her poise and relentless net defense to the professional ranks.

Joining a Highrisers squad that already features a strong middle blocker rotation in former Lady Tamaraw teammate Jean Asis and Roselle Baliton, Ann is focused on making an immediate impact for a Galeries side eager to break through in a highly competitive nine-team field.

Aside from reuniting with her former running mate from FEU, Asis is also looking forward to learning from Jean — the second overall pick in the 2025 PVL Draft — and veteran middle blocker Roselle Baliton.

“Sobrang excited po, especially kay Jean kasi teammates kami sa FEU and talagang sister-sister kami. Talagang meron siya nung offense and ako naman sa defense sa blocking, yun yung parang tandem namin,” Asis told reporters last Wednesday evening at Novotel Manila in Cubao.

“Sobrang excited ako kay Ate Baliton na makasama siya sa court kasi magaling siyang mag-block and I think sobrang laki pa ng matutunan ko sa kanya.”

For the 5-foot-10 middle blocker, hearing her name called by Galeries Tower marked the culmination of the leap of faith she took in entering the professional ranks, especially after impressing the Highrisers during multiple tryout sessions.

(C) PVL Images

Those standout tryouts proved crucial for the pride of Real, Quezon. Despite limited playing time with the Lady Tamaraws due to the emergence of players like Jaz Ellarina and Cla Loresco, Asis defied the odds to become one of just 11 players selected from a pool of 38 aspirants.

“Sobrang grateful ko po na ako yung pinili nila and nakita nila talaga yung potential kasi nung nakitraining ako sa kanila talagang sila yung unang team na pinuntahan ko and talagang binigay ko lang lahat kasi nothing to lose naman talaga yung pagsali ko dito sa PVL and sobrang saya kasi nagtiwala sila sa akin,” Asis said.

“Nasa isip ko lang na kung sinuman yung team na pipili sa akin, sabi ko talaga, ipapangako ko na ibibigay ko lahat ng kaya kong ibigay sa kanila. And grateful ako na Galeries yung pumili sa akin,” she added.

Although her playing time was limited during her stint with the Tina Salak-mentored FEU squad, Asis believes those years with the Lady Tamaraws were far from wasted.

Instead, she intends to use that experience to develop the grit and resilience needed to help fuel Galeries Tower’s push for immediate success, beginning with the upcoming PVL on Tour tournament.

“Excited naman po ako na kung ano man po yung maibibigay sa akin na role and kung ano yung skills and nakuha ko sa FEU na nakuha ko na pagiging resilient, disciplined, lahat — team player naman po ako so willing po ako na ibigay lahat ng yun sa Galeries ngayon,” she said.

The post Ann Asis excited for FEU reunion with Jean Asis in Galeries Tower rebuild appeared first on Tiebreaker Times.

Akari made the surprising decision to pass up the opportunity to pick fifth in the first round of the 2026 Premier Volleyball League Draft, becoming the first team to skip a selection and effectively ending its participation in the selection process last Wednesday night.

The decision marked a rare occurrence in the young history of the PVL Draft, as it became the first time a team elected to pass on a first-round pick since the league introduced the rookie draft two years ago.

Chargers assistant coach Eddieson Orcullo, who represented the team alongside several players during the draft, revealed that Akari had identified two prospects as potential targets.

According to Tiebreaker Times sources, those two were Tin Ubaldo, who was picked third by Choco Mucho, and Nicole Ong, who eventually landed with Farm Fresh.

However, both players were taken before Akari’s turn at sixth overall, prompting management to pass on the pick rather than select a player who did not fit its needs.

(C) PVL Images

“Actually, meron. May first and second (options). Kaso dumating lang sa point na hindi namin nakuha ‘yung dalawa, so siguro ‘yung dalawa na ‘yun talaga ang kailangan ng team namin,” said Orcullo.

“Pero dahil nga napunta dun sa naunang teams na mag-select, kaya we decided to pass na rin. Yung management, si Coach Tina (Salak), yung coaches talagang nag-usap naman kami regarding dun. So far, okay naman kami sa result,” he added.

The Chargers are now expected to lean on and maximize their current roster heading into the upcoming season, banking on continuity and internal development as they open their campaign in the PVL On Tour later this month.

“Ngayon, so far kung ano ‘yung meron kaming lineup sa roster namin, I think magiging maganda naman ‘yung takbo namin,” he said.

“Titingnan natin, siyempre, with the help of the players na talagang nandiyan naka-support sa lahat ng ginagawa natin.”

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