Mau Belen

Last updated

Mau Belen
Personal information
Born1991or1992(age 32–33) [1]
Career history
As a coach:
2021–2024 TNT Triple Giga (3x3)
2024 Philippines 3x3
Career highlights

Maureen Kris Belen [2] (born 1991or1992 [1] ) is a Filipino basketball coach. [3]

Contents

Career

Coaching career

Early years (pre-2021)

A former high school varsity player, [3] Belen shifted to coaching having limited options to continue her playing career as a woman. She joined coach Eric Altamirano's basketball school to hone her skills before heading to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where she stayed for four years and worked as a youth coach for the local Filipino community there. [4]

Belen returned to the Philippines in 2017, coaching at least three teams. [4] This include the Philippine National Police women's team in 2019. [5] Her other previous employers were Assumption College and St. Paul College of Parañaque. [4]

TNT Tropang Giga assistant coach

In March 2021, Belen became the first female coach in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) when she was made assistant coach of the Chot Reyes-led staff of TNT Tropang Giga. [5] However, the inclusion of female staff member is not new in the history of the franchise with Debbie Tan as team manager when the team was still known as Mobiline. [2]

TNT Triple Giga head coach

She would also become head coach of TNT's team in the PBA 3x3. [6] TNT would win the third conference of the 2021 season under her mentorship. [7] The team, later rebranded as the TNT Triple Giga, would continue its winning streak by winning all three conferences in the 2022–23 season – the first ever grand slam in the 3x3 league's history. [7] [8] [9] The team would be disbanded after the PBA 3x3's dissolution after the 2023–24 season. [10]

Philippines 3x3

Belen would be the head coach of the Philippines men's national 3x3 team which took part in the 2024 FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup. [11]

Sports administration

Belen organized sports events in Dubai. [6] She was also part of the organizing team of the basketball tournament of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines. [5]

Belen also served as tournament director of National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) which organizes tournaments for girls. [12]

In 2024, together with former TNT Triple Giga players Chester Saldua, Samboy de Leon and Matt Salem, they founded the basketball league Half Court 3x3. [13]

Personal life

Belen is a lesbian. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Caluag, Randy (November 28, 2021). "Mau Belen: Lady coach's methods work wonders for TNT". Manila Standard. Retrieved July 13, 2023. the 29-year-old
  2. 1 2 "A lady member of coaching staff? TnT giving the idea a chance". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. March 25, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Morales, Luisa (June 17, 2023). "How Mau Belen lets her actions silence doubters". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Andaya, Ed (August 22, 2021). "Make way for Mau Belen, the first female coach in the PBA - Journal News". Journal News Online. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Mau Belen breaks barriers as newest TNT Tropang GIGA coaching staff member". CNN Philippines. March 30, 2021. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "'So far, so good': Players praise TNT 3x3 coach Belen". ABS-CBN News. November 17, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  7. 1 2 l "TNT completes PBA 3x3 grand slam". Tiebreaker Times. February 26, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  8. ↑ Ramos, Gerry (February 26, 2023). "TNT completes date with history after winning PBA 3x3 grand slam". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  9. ↑ Clarito, Ariel Ian (April 1, 2023). "Why is Mau Belen not the Gilas Men's 3x3 head coach?". Rappler. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  10. ↑ "TNT Triple Giga's future in limbo after sudden release amid PBA 3x3 suspension". Tiebreaker Times. June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  11. ↑ Li, Matthew (March 30, 2024). "Australia dominates Gilas Men; Japan ends their FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup run". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  12. ↑ Morales, Luisa (March 5, 2023). "NBTC girls hoops tiff hopes to inspire next generation of women ballers". The Philippines Star. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Mau Belen, former TNT 3×3 players launch new 3×3 league". Tiebreaker Times. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
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