Mau Belen
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1991 or 1992 (age 31–32) |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 2021–2024 | TNT Triple Giga (3x3) |
| 2024 | Philippines 3x3 |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Maureen Kris Belen[1] (born 1991 or 1992[2]) is a Filipino basketball coach.[3]
Career
[edit]Coaching career
[edit]Early years (pre-2021)
[edit]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
[edit]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.[1]
TNT Triple Giga head coach
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Belen identifies as a lesbian and presents herself as masculine.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "A lady member of coaching staff? TnT giving the idea a chance". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. March 25, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Caluag, Randy (November 28, 2021). "Mau Belen: Lady coach's methods work wonders for TNT". Manila Standard. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c Morales, Luisa (June 17, 2023). "How Mau Belen lets her actions silence doubters". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ a b "'So far, so good': Players praise TNT 3x3 coach Belen". ABS-CBN News. November 17, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ a b l"TNT completes PBA 3x3 grand slam". Tiebreaker Times. February 26, 2023. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Ramos, Gerry (February 26, 2023). "TNT completes date with history after winning PBA 3x3 grand slam". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ Clarito, Ariel Ian (April 1, 2023). "Why is Mau Belen not the Gilas Men's 3x3 head coach?". Rappler. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ "TNT Triple Giga's future in limbo after sudden release amid PBA 3x3 suspension". Tiebreaker Times. June 9, 2024. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Li, Matthew (March 30, 2024). "Australia dominates Gilas Men; Japan ends their FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup run". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
- ^ Morales, Luisa (March 5, 2023). "NBTC girls hoops tiff hopes to inspire next generation of women ballers". The Philippines Star. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
- ^ "Mau Belen, former TNT 3×3 players launch new 3×3 league". Tiebreaker Times. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.