National University seniors Alyssa Solomon and Bella Belen are still undecided about their future after leading the Lady Bulldogs to the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament championship on Wednesday night.
Solomon mentioned that she has yet to make a decision about her future, emphasizing that her sole focus for the past few months has been on NU’s title campaign.
After a challenging season, Alyssa Solomon’s priority is celebration and recovery, not the PVL Draft or her Alas Pilipinas call-up just yet
#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/EfEZyuPhkN
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 15, 2024
“Actually, wala pa ko sa ganiyang ano eh. Ang iniisip ko lang focus ko lang talaga muna ngayon is yung UAAP,” said Finals MVP Solomon after the Lady Bulldogs’ title-clinching Game 2 win over UST on Wednesday.
“So parang andun pa lang talaga, nandun pa lang talaga yung mind ko sa UAAP. Wala pa sa PVL,” she added, when asked about the upcoming Premier Volleyball League draft.
Meanwhile, Belen revealed that she will prioritize her pending school work and her ongoing on-the-job training before making a decision.
Bella Belen leaves the door open for a return to NU in the future
However, her current focus is on recovery.#UAAPSeason86 pic.twitter.com/KaOeUBMIKI
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 15, 2024
“Ngayon po after nito, magfo-focus muna ako sa school kasi meron akong final thesis and meron pa po akong OJT na medyo hindi namin napapasukan kasi naka-focus kami sa training. Babawi muna po siguro sa school po,” said Belen.
“Sa school po muna talaga and siguro i-enjoy muna yung pagiging champion namin. I-enjoy muna namin with our families and with our teammates,” she added.
The fourth-year psychology student, who just completed her third playing year with NU, expressed that she is open to returning to the Lady Bulldogs.
(C) Joaqui Flores/UAAP Season 86 Media Team
“Pwede po, gusto naman. Gusto naman po. Sino ba naman pong hindi gugustuhin makasama yung talagang palaban na team, yung talagang grabe yung hard work ng NU kaya sobrang saya ko na sila yung nakasama ko throughout my career,” said Belen.
Solomon contributed 27 points with 20 attacks, four blocks, and three aces to help NU defeat the Golden Tigresses in four sets, 25-23, 23-25, 27-25, 25-16, in Game 2, while Belen added 19 points, 11 excellent digs, and nine excellent receptions.
The Lady Bulldogs achieved a rare golden double after the Bulldogs also emerged victorious against UST in Game 2 of the Men’s Finals earlier in the day.
Belen and Solomon’s participation in the upcoming AVC Challenge Cup for Women also remains uncertain as they revealed that they have yet to decide if they will join the national team next week.
Belen said she will report to school first, while Solomon will have her right knee checked before making a decision.
“Hindi ko pa po alam kasi si Ate Aly (Solomon) may checkup for injury niya before then siguro sa school magre-report muna sa school and then siguro enjoy muna po namin yung championship nang saglitan, ganun,” said Belen.
The AVC Challenge Cup, scheduled at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum, will take place from July 22 to 29.
