For most of their volleyball lives, Detdet Pepito and Bella Belen were known as rivals representing two of the most successful programs in the UAAP.
One became the defensive backbone of the University of Santo Tomas. The other grew into the face of National University’s dynasty.
Year after year, they battled on opposite sides of one of collegiate volleyball’s fiercest rivalries. Yet long before the championships, MVP awards, and packed arenas, they were simply two young athletes sharing the same court and chasing the same dream.
On Wednesday night at the 2026 PVL Draft, that journey came full circle.
Capital1 selected Pepito with the second overall pick, reuniting the decorated UST libero with Belen and transforming a childhood partnership into one of the most intriguing storylines of the upcoming PVL season.
“Ngayong nandito ako sa PVL, siya yung ka-teammate ko and si Pia Abbu. Sobrang happy lang and excited ako na mas may matutunan din sa kanila,” Pepito told reporters.
Their reunion is rooted in a history that predates their collegiate stardom.
Before becoming household names in Philippine volleyball, both players learned the game at Lucas R. Pascual Elementary School in Quezon City under coach Henry Fernandez. Back then, their roles were vastly different. Belen played as a setter while Pepito was deployed as a spiker, years before each discovered the positions that would eventually define their careers.
As their paths diverged, both built remarkable legacies.
Pepito spent 11 years with the Golden Tigresses program and emerged as one of the most decorated liberos in UAAP history. Although a championship remained elusive, she collected six Best Libero awards and established herself as one of the most reliable defensive specialists the collegiate game has ever produced.
Belen’s journey unfolded on an even grander scale. She became the centerpiece of National University’s era of dominance, capturing eight championships and five MVP awards while cementing her place among the greatest players ever to wear a Lady Bulldogs uniform.
For years, their friendship existed alongside competition.
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𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐏𝐕𝐋 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐅𝐓: Longtime friends Pepito, Belen share the same side again
For the longest time, 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐝𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐨 and 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧 stood at the forefront of 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐬 and 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲’s… pic.twitter.com/eZR7zGn0nL
— Varsity Lifestyle Co. (@VLC_Official) June 4, 2026
Now, for the first time since their childhood days, they will be working toward the same objective.
“Habang papunta nga ako sa red carpet, tinitingnan ko siya. Nagto-throwback lang yung teammates kami since elementary,” Pepito shared.
“Actually, mixed emotions, pero sobrang grateful and thankful lang talaga ako kay Lord na pinapangarap ko lang makapasok dito sa PVL and now, number two pick. Pressured, pero thankful pa rin talaga kay Lord, and I will try my best to help Capital1.”
The timing of Pepito’s arrival could not be more significant for Capital1.
The Solar Spikers have aggressively reshaped their roster during the offseason, adding proven talent in former Cignal stars Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos while also selecting University of the East standout Khy Cepada later in the draft.
With Belen already serving as the franchise cornerstone, Pepito gives the team another elite talent capable of contributing immediately.
Still, the former UST libero knows that familiarity with Belen alone will not guarantee success.
Capital1 enters the season with growing expectations, and developing chemistry with an increasingly talented roster remains the immediate priority.
“I think slowly muna na siyempre, yung chemistry ng bago kong team and yung system na meron sila, kailangan ma-adapt ko muna. Mangangarap kami siyempre, hopefully sa amin din mapunta yung championship.“
For Pepito and Belen, the story is no longer about school colors, rivalries, or individual achievements.
After years of traveling separate roads through Philippine volleyball, the two childhood teammates have finally found themselves on the same side once again—this time with hopes of helping Capital1 build something special in the professional ranks.
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