NU’s Bella Belen throughout a recreation in opposition to La Salle within the second spherical of UAAP Season 87 girls’s volleyball.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
There are similarities to Bella Belen’s first two years within the UAAP and her final two. She is hoping, nonetheless, for a distinct ending.
“The sensation now could be extra of pleasure for me, as a result of again then I used to be youthful and had some older teammates to look as much as,” Belen advised the Inquirer in Filipino.
Nationwide College was in a 65-year championship dry spell earlier than the arrival of Belen, who helped the Woman Bulldogs to the historic title run in simply her first yr in Season 84 of the ladies’s volleyball event, the place she grew to become the first-ever Rookie MVP.
READ: UAAP: Bella Belen says NU loss may very well be ‘blessing in disguise’
As a freshman, Belen got here to a squad teeming with skills like Cess Robles, Jen Nierva, Ivy Lacsina and Kamille Cal. And when these stars departed, Nationwide U surrendered the crown to La Salle and one other tremendous rookie in Angel Canino the next season.
It’s that a part of her UAAP historical past that Belen clearly doesn’t need repeating in her final dance. She needs to go away Nationwide U as a reigning champion.
“Now that I’m one of many seniors on the group, I assist information the younger ones,” she stated. “So I really feel excited, as a result of we are able to see how us seniors grew as gamers and as teammates.
“[I hope they] see how we introduced ourselves to the place we at the moment are. And since that is our final [playing year], we’re taking part in each recreation giving every part we’ve got,” stated Belen who, like Alyssa Solomon and a few different stars, is ready to show professional later within the yr.
Because the defending champions, the Bulldogs, now dealt with by champion coach Sherwin Meneses, are on high of the sector and have the primary twice-to-beat bonus within the Last 4.
They shut out the eliminations in opposition to acquainted rival College of Santo Tomas, which Nationwide U has dominated since final season’s second spherical, a four-game sweep counting the final title sequence.
“We should always finish our final recreation the precise approach, as a result of after that, every part will come by quick within the semis after which the Finals, if ever,” Belen stated. “So even when we’ve got gotten the [semifinal protection], we shouldn’t be complacent.”
“Our starvation to get the win ought to nonetheless be there, as a result of the twice-to-beat just isn’t our aim this season—it’s solely a stepping stone for us to get our foremost aim, which is the championship.”
And the reigning MVP gained’t be holding something again in serving to her Woman Bulldogs in holding down the fort. Once more.
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“That is my final [UAAP] elimination [round], would possibly as nicely give my finest.” INQ
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