NU’s Bella Belen throughout a sport in opposition to La Salle within the second spherical of UAAP Season 87 ladies’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 unique 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 informed 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 12 months in Season 84 of the ladies’s volleyball event, the place she turned 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 abilities 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 depart Nationwide U as a reigning champion.
“Now that I’m one of many seniors on the staff, I assist information the younger ones,” she mentioned. “So I really feel excited, as a result of we will see how us seniors grew as gamers and as teammates.
“[I hope they] see how we introduced ourselves to the place we are actually. And since that is our final [playing year], we’re enjoying each sport giving all the pieces we’ve got,” mentioned Belen who, like Alyssa Solomon and a few different stars, is about to show professional later within the 12 months.
Because the defending champions, the Bulldogs, now dealt with by champion coach Sherwin Meneses, are on high of the sphere and have the primary twice-to-beat bonus within the Remaining 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 collection.
“We should always finish our final sport the proper method, as a result of after that, all the pieces will come by quick within the semis after which the Finals, if ever,” Belen mentioned. “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 will not be 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.
“That is my final [UAAP] elimination [round], may as properly give my finest.” INQ
For the whole collegiate sports activities protection together with scores, schedules and tales, go to Inquirer Varsity.
