Bella Belen at the UAAP Season 87 women volleyball press conference on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media

MANILA, Philippines – Two-time UAAP MVP and National University (NU) star Bella Belen confirmed Thursday that Season 87 would be her final playing year at the collegiate level.

Belen, 22, a two-time champion already and the reigning top plum recipient, seeks to exit the UAAP with flying colors by keeping the women's volleyball crown in NU.

READ: UAAP: Will Bella Belen return to National U for Season 87?

"Sobrang excited ako to play ngayon kasi this is my final year na nga with NU and siyempre gusto namin mag-back-to-back," Belen told reporters during the press conference for the Season 87 women's volleyball tournament on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

"Hindi namin siya nagawa nung [Season] 85, so ngayon mas iba 'yung mindset nung team, kasi mas mahirap mag-defend ng crown kaysa umagaw ng crown," she went on.

READ: UAAP: Bella Belen embraces greater leadership role for Lady Bulldogs

The Lady Bulldogs spiker said her focus right now is with her current team and not her future career at the pro level.

"Ako po kasi personally, hindi ko pa po siya masyado naiisip, like kung ano 'yung dapat kong i-perform ko sa pro. 'Yung mindset ko po ngayon is UAAP muna. Tatapusin ko muna 'yung UAAP season ko with NU nang maganda," Belen said.

"Tsaka ko na iisipin 'yung future. Sa present muna ako nag-iisip," she concluded.

This time, the Lady Bulldogs are on title defense mode under the mentorship of Premier Volleyball League (PVL) grand slam champion coach Sherwin Meneses.