The Bali Pure Water Defenders were down to just nine players last Wednesday when the Blue and White squad faced the upstart Iriga City Lady Oragons. Moreover, they were down a set in a 25-18 set loss.
Former Ateneo Lady Eagle Karla Bello then came to the rescue.
The 30 year old setter last played a year and a half ago with the Foton Tornadoes in the Philippine SuperLiga. After a long hiatus from the sport, the idea of an Ateneo Lady Eagle reunion was an opportunity she could not refuse. “Charo is one of my closest friends. I told her, ‘Cha! Try to get more players,'” she shared to Tiebreaker Times. “I stopped playing kasi after Foton, siguro mga two years ago yun. So parang wala talagang training or exercise.”
“I told her I could play naman. Sabi niya go play. Sobrang daling kausap.”
Familiarity had always been the problem for the Water Defenders ever since their V-League debut. “To be begin with, sinabi namin na kelangan namin ilabas yung laro namin kahit wala yung iba, just do our best,” Bello, who had 26 excellent sets, said. “Kahit malakas kami individually, we just have to really gel.”
“Ako I have never played with any of them and same thing with them.”
Fortunately for the Water Defenders, she and San Sebastian standout Grethcel Soltones clicked as the game went on. “All throughout the game, kami ni Grethcel nangapa talaga pero magaling siya eh,” Bello gushed about the team’s co-captain. “Kahit anong ibato ko sa kanya, nagagawan niya ng paraan.”
Even with the goal of winning at the back of their minds, playing with Bali Pure is more personal for the former Lady Eagle. “Kasi I was given an opportunity by Foton, nila coach Vilet [De Leon]. Then, the latter part na I said ‘no na’ for personal reasons,” she reflected. “So ngayon, given the opportunity baka wala ng sumunod kaya laro na. Baka ito na yun at baka last na habang kaya pa.”
“Personally, I’m really here to play and do my best. Manalo o matalo buti na lang I’m here and given the opportunity to play. For the team, kahit yung mga bata, sila Grethcel, they really want it. Ako I just want to play, sila they want to win. Nahahawa na lang kami [sa winning mentality].”
If this was her last opportunity to play in a highly-competitive league, Bello will at least end it alongside the teammates she went to war with during her collegiate days: the Lady Eagles.
