Mau Belen
TNT Triple Giga
PositionHead coach
LeaguePBA 3x3
Personal information
Born1991 or 1992 (age 31–32)
Career history
As coach:
2021–presentTNT Tropang Giga
2021–presentTNT Triple Giga (3x3)
Career highlights and awards

Maureen Kris Belen[1] (born 1991 or 1992[2]) is a Filipino basketball coach.[3]

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.[1]

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]

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.[10]

Personal life

Belen identifies as a lesbian and presents herself as masculine.[3]

References

  1. 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.
  2. ↑ Caluag, Randy (November 28, 2021). "Mau Belen: Lady coach's methods work wonders for TNT". Manila Standard. 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. 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. ↑ Morales, Luisa (March 5, 2023). "NBTC girls hoops tiff hopes to inspire next generation of women ballers". The Philippines Star. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
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