Back in 2023, the heart of then-sophomore Bella Belen felt shattered when National University failed to defend its UAAP women’s volleyball crown, surrendering the Season 85 title to De La Salle University.
Now, in May 2025, it’s a full-circle moment. The defending champions, NU Lady Bulldogs, are once again up against the Lady Spikers — this time for the Season 87 championship.
Belen, now a senior and two-time MVP, is ready to leave everything on the Taraflex in what will be her final year representing the school she’s called home since high school.
Still carrying the pain of that Season 85 loss, the NU lifer draws a clear line between the team they were then and the battle-hardened squad they are now — one anchored by four graduating seniors, including Alyssa Solomon, Erin Pangilinan, and Sheena Toring.
“We’ve been here before and we know na po ano ang feeling defending the crown. Hindi siya magiging madali kasi siyempre, La Salle is a champion team. So kailangan times three yung paglalaro namin,” Belen told Tiebreaker Times on Sunday, a day after NU and La Salle dispatched FEU and UST, respectively, to book a Finals showdown.
“Siguro magiging mindset lang namin coming sa Finals is ayaw na namin maranasan o maramdaman ulit yung sakit nung nangyari sa amin nung Season 85. This is our goal na eh — one step closer na kami na mag-back-to-back so hindi na namin siya papakawalan. Hangga’t may chance kami, we will just give our best until the end of the tournament,” added the first-ever rookie MVP in UAAP women’s volleyball history.
In her sensational rookie year, Belen led NU to a historic season sweep that ended a 65-year title drought. With such dominance, expectations were sky-high for a repeat — but Season 85 rookie MVP Angel Canino had other plans.
Canino led La Salle to the championship in a Finals series for the ages, with both Game 1 and Game 2 going the full five sets.
Belen and company reclaimed the throne in Season 86, sweeping the Golden Tigresses in two games.
Now, with her final dance underway, Belen feels determined to close her UAAP chapter on a high note.
“Siyempre as a player, gusto ko at gusto namin mabigyan ng legacy yung NU bago man kami umalis. Iba po yung feeling pag naglalaro ka sa UAAP, like yung school pride talaga,” said the 22-year-old outside spiker.
“Last two or three games na lang kami so ibibigay ko na talaga kung ano yung pinakabest ko. And gaya nga ng sabi ko, may chance kami ulit mag-champion. And this is probably my last UAAP, so gusto ko aalis ako nang walang pagsisisi.”
NU dominated their two elimination round meetings with La Salle — sweeping the first (25-23, 25-21, 25-18) and taking the second in four sets (25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-18).
But while NU holds the season series edge, Belen remains cautious. She knows the Lady Spikers have found their rhythm at just the right time.
“Pag dating sa Finals, yung mga naipanalo namin nung elimination, wala na po yun. Kumbaga 0-0 na ulit kami ng La Salle, like kung sino unang makadalawa ang mananalo,” said the NU team captain.
“Siguro magandang factor din na naipanalo namin yung two games namin sa kanila nung elimination para at least medyo familiar kami sa game play nila. Pero siyempre Finals na po, ibang usapan na. Ibang klaseng La Salle na yung makakalaban namin so kailangan namin maghanda.”
