SPORTS
Advocates Philippines
Heart Steals The Show As Bella Belen Powers All-Star Win In Candon
Photo credit: PVL
Team Heart showed grit and flair as they took down Team Hustle, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23, 25-17, in the PVL exhibition match of the 2026 Volleyball All-Star Showcase Friday night at a jam-packed Candon City Arena.
Right from the opening sets, fans could already feel this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. Both squads traded blows early, splitting the first two sets in a tight back-and-forth. But when it mattered most, Team Heart found its rhythm—and never looked back.
At the center of it all was Bella Belen, who powered Team Heart with an MVP-worthy performance. The turning point came late in the third set, where Team Heart dug deep to snatch momentum. From there, they carried that energy straight into the fourth.
And what a fourth set it was.
Team Heart came out blazing with an 11-1 run that immediately put Team Hustle on the back foot. The gap proved too wide to close, as Team Heart stayed in control all the way to match point, sealing the win at 24-17 before finishing things off in style.
For Belen, though, the win was just part of the story.
“Ayun po, masaya po kami kasi nakapag-interact kami with the fans… mas nakakatuwa na makita po yung fans na nage-enjoy,” she shared, highlighting how the night was as much about the supporters as it was about the game.
And fans definitely got their money’s worth.
The match had its fair share of fun twists—coaches and even a line judge stepping in to serve, players rotating into officiating roles, and liberos trying their luck in attack. It was competitive, yes—but also refreshingly playful.
The final point perfectly captured that vibe. Court assistant Jhyson Manzano, subbed in by Alyssa Valdez, delivered a cross-court hit off a set from Jia De Guzman, with the ball deflecting off Kath Arado to end the match on a high note.
On the sidelines, head coach Rald Ricafort couldn’t hide his amazement at the turnout.
“Sobrang happy kasi sobrang daming fans sa Candon… na-overwhelm ako kasi grabe ‘yung volleyball community dito,” he said, admitting they didn’t expect such an electric atmosphere.
Beyond the main event, the energy spilled over into the side competitions.
Team Power continued its hot streak—fresh off a Spikers’ Turf All-Star win—by ruling the Infinite Volley Extravaganza Challenge, led by Noel Kampton, Ysay Marasigan, Jayvee Sumagaysay, and even a fan participant.
Meanwhile, Team Blue, featuring Arado, Alyssa Eroa, John Pepito, and Rikko Marmeto, outlasted Team Yellow to win the Crosscourt Sniper Challenge.
In the end, it wasn’t just about the P100,000 prize. It was about the connection, the crowd, and a night where volleyball turned into pure entertainment—something Candon City clearly embraced with open arms.
Right from the opening sets, fans could already feel this wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. Both squads traded blows early, splitting the first two sets in a tight back-and-forth. But when it mattered most, Team Heart found its rhythm—and never looked back.
At the center of it all was Bella Belen, who powered Team Heart with an MVP-worthy performance. The turning point came late in the third set, where Team Heart dug deep to snatch momentum. From there, they carried that energy straight into the fourth.
And what a fourth set it was.
Team Heart came out blazing with an 11-1 run that immediately put Team Hustle on the back foot. The gap proved too wide to close, as Team Heart stayed in control all the way to match point, sealing the win at 24-17 before finishing things off in style.
For Belen, though, the win was just part of the story.
“Ayun po, masaya po kami kasi nakapag-interact kami with the fans… mas nakakatuwa na makita po yung fans na nage-enjoy,” she shared, highlighting how the night was as much about the supporters as it was about the game.
And fans definitely got their money’s worth.
The match had its fair share of fun twists—coaches and even a line judge stepping in to serve, players rotating into officiating roles, and liberos trying their luck in attack. It was competitive, yes—but also refreshingly playful.
The final point perfectly captured that vibe. Court assistant Jhyson Manzano, subbed in by Alyssa Valdez, delivered a cross-court hit off a set from Jia De Guzman, with the ball deflecting off Kath Arado to end the match on a high note.
On the sidelines, head coach Rald Ricafort couldn’t hide his amazement at the turnout.
“Sobrang happy kasi sobrang daming fans sa Candon… na-overwhelm ako kasi grabe ‘yung volleyball community dito,” he said, admitting they didn’t expect such an electric atmosphere.
Beyond the main event, the energy spilled over into the side competitions.
Team Power continued its hot streak—fresh off a Spikers’ Turf All-Star win—by ruling the Infinite Volley Extravaganza Challenge, led by Noel Kampton, Ysay Marasigan, Jayvee Sumagaysay, and even a fan participant.
Meanwhile, Team Blue, featuring Arado, Alyssa Eroa, John Pepito, and Rikko Marmeto, outlasted Team Yellow to win the Crosscourt Sniper Challenge.
In the end, it wasn’t just about the P100,000 prize. It was about the connection, the crowd, and a night where volleyball turned into pure entertainment—something Candon City clearly embraced with open arms.
May 2, 2026
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