The roles have reversed after the UAAP Season 85 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
De La Salle University is now the hunted, while National University plays the role of the hunter as it aims to regain the championship it lost last year.
Bella Belen is well aware of the situation, recognizing that the Lady Spikers are now the gold standard. That’s why they will prepare rigorously for Saturday’s Finals rematch at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Yung La Salle po kasi champion team sila, so alam naman po namin na hindi po siya magiging madali,” said Belen after NU scored its fifth straight win on Sunday heading to their clash with La Salle.
“Siguro po ang gagawin na lang namin is papanuorin namin kung paano sila maglaro, pag-aaralan namin kung paano sila gumalaw.
“And at the same time, titingnan namin yung sarili namin kung ano yung data namin gawin as a team na pwede namin gawin sa game namin sa Saturday,” she continued.
After La Salle’s win later in the day against the University of the Philippines, they both now hold a 5-1 record before their big rematch on Saturday.
However, Belen shared how the Lady Bulldogs are now more unpredictable this season as they have a fully-equipped squad rather than a single superstar.
“We’re really happy po kasi nakita po namin na lahat po ay kayang mag-contribute sa team, at yung team naman po… Kasi namin we’re not building a star player po talaga, gusto namin lahat kami paangat, gusto namin walang pong naiiwan,” she said as all 12 rotation players scored at least two points in their win against the University of the East.
With scoring duties not focused on her now, the Season 84 MVP has time to work on her defensive skills to be a well-rounded athlete.
And it is showing so far in her numbers.
As of Saturday, Belen ranks third in digging with 4.0 per set and fifth in receptions with a 46.67 percent efficiency rate.
“Sa training pa lang naka-mindset kasi sa akin na dapat yung depensa namin is maganda. So for me, para mapaganda yun ipakita ko sa team ko na kaya namin, na kaya ng bawat isa sa amin na dumepensa ng maganda, na maging consistent,” said the 21-year-old spiker.
