Bella Belen may have walked out of the SMART Araneta Coliseum on Sunday night as the hero in National University’s five-set victory over last year’s Finals opponent, University of Santo Tomas, but the two-time UAAP MVP did not have an easy time.
Trailing 17-19 in the fourth set, Belen powered four straight hits to give the Lady Bulldogs a slim 21-20 lead, only for the match to be sent into a decisive fifth set.
However, the NU lifer committed two crucial miscues — a net touch and an attack error — while the Lady Bulldogs struggled to contain three attacks from Regina Jurado, keeping the Golden Tigresses’ bid for an outright twice-to-beat advantage alive.
Determined to lead NU to a win that would boost their confidence and momentum heading into their Final Four clash against fourth-ranked Far Eastern University, Belen quickly composed herself. She helped rally the Lady Bulldogs to their fifth straight victory over UST since the second round of Season 86.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Yung errors, hindi naman mawawala ‘yan sa player, lalo na pag tight yung game and medyo gigil at gusto agad makapuntos. Sabi ko lang sa sarili ko na coming into the fifth set, kailangan mas composed and kalmado ako kasi isa na ako sa mga seniors. Kaya ayoko nakikitaan ako ng mga teammates ko na ako pa yung nara-rattle at natatakot maglaro,” Belen told reporters.
“Sabi ko, kailangan ko lang ibigay yung best ko pagdating ng fifth set and saglit lang din kasi yung fifth set ‘eh. Tumigil ka lang din ng kaunti, magugulat ka na lang talo ka na. Binigay ko lang yung best ko nung fifth set ko kasi may teammates naman ako na nakasuporta sa akin, so anong ikakatakot ko,” she added.
Belen displayed remarkable bravery and composure in the final set, scoring six out of the 15 points in the fifth frame to secure a gritty 23-25, 25-17, 25-18, 22-25, 15-9 triumph over UST.
With NU clinging to a slim one-point lead, Belen powered the Lady Bulldogs’ pivotal 7-2 run, capped with an off-the-block hit and a crosscourt attack, to build a 14-8 lead that proved insurmountable.
As the NU Hymn played, the Lady Bulldogs celebrated their 12th win in 14 outings, and Belen could hardly contain her emotions. She shed tears of joy after the hard-fought win, finishing with an impressive triple-double stat line of 26 points, 17 digs, and 13 receptions.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Siguro sa sobrang saya and kasi hindi naging madali yung game today. Talagang pinagtrabahuan ng bawat isa sa amin yung panalo. Yung emotion, lumabas na lang na parang thankful na narewardan kami ng panalo dahil sa sipag. Yung UST kasi, masipag din talaga,” Belen shared.
“Nung fifth set nga, nakakapagchismisan kami, sinasabi namin sa isa na nakakapagod. Nakakapagod talaga, pero kasi konti na lang ‘eh, yung fifth set naman hanggang 15 lang naman, so rinemind ko lang yung teammates ko na onting effort na lang, matatapos na yung game and maipapanalo na namin. Nagpapagod na lang din kami, so dapat panalo, kasi sayang naman yung pagod if matatalo.”
For Belen, this battle — which pushed both NU and herself to the core, physically and emotionally — was exactly what the team needed ahead of their crucial rematch with Far Eastern University in the upcoming semifinals.
This tough win proved vital for the Lady Bulldogs’ preparations for the semifinals, as it was a reminder of their loss to the Lady Tamaraws in Season 86, where FEU erased NU’s twice-to-beat advantage before sweeping their way to the title.
“Oo, ito talaga, kasi yung UST sobrang magaling talaga nila at sobrang madepensa nila. Actually, mahirap talaga sila kalaban yung UST kasi parang complete yung players nila — may setters, may spikers, at may libero pa sila na magaling,” she stressed.
“Thankful din talaga ako na naranasan din namin siya lalo’t na ngayon, last game na namin sa eliminations. Marami rin kami natutunan ulit at maraming lesson na pwede baunin heading into the semifinals.”
#WATCH: Belle Belen opens up about battling emotions in NU’s intense fourth set against UST 🏐
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/ezPID5pYig
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 27, 2025
