Bella Belen has one goal in mind for her final year with National University — finish as back-to-back UAAP champions.
That has been the driving force for the two-time UAAP women’s volleyball MVP after the Lady Bulldogs fell short of defending their title in Season 85.
NU clinched the Season 84 crown but failed to retain it the following year, as the Angel Canino-led De La Salle University snatched the championship.
“Sobrang excited ako to play ngayon kasi this is my final year na nga with NU. Siyempre, gusto namin mag-back-to-back kasi hindi namin siya nagawa nung 85, so ngayon mas iba yung mindset ng team,” said the first-ever Rookie MVP in the women’s division.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Belen acknowledged that defending the title will be a tough challenge, but since this is their second attempt at a repeat, they now have a better understanding of what it takes.
One significant advantage for NU is its intact core, with second libero Pearl Denura being the only departure from last season’s championship squad.
Still alongside Belen are Season 86 Finals MVP Alyssa Solomon, setter Camilla Lamina, middle blockers Erin Pangilinan, Sheena Toring, and Chams Maaya, as well as outside spiker Vange Alinsug.
Also waiting in the wings is national team member Arah Panique.
“Mas mahirap mag-defend ng crown kaysa umagaw ng crown. So sabi namin sa sarili namin, dapat ready kami sa mga challenge na pwedeng iharap sa amin ng bawat team,” Belen admitted.
She went on, “At the same time, may mga inside challenges din kami — hindi lang mula sa ibang teams kundi pati na rin sa sarili namin, kung paano namin iha-handle yung emotions namin.”
Despite having a new head coach in Sherwin Meneses — their third tactician in four years — the Lady Bulldogs remain confident, bolstered by their strong chemistry and a fresh system under their new mentor.
“Very excited lang ako kung ano yung pwedeng ipakita ng team namin. Kasi bagong sistema, bagong coach, pero intact pa rin yung chemistry ng team. Yun yung nagpapabuo sa team namin ngayon,” she added.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
Meneses’ arrival also brings an extra source of guidance and inspiration for NU, as he currently leads the Creamline Cool Smashers, the Premier Volleyball League’s most successful club with 10 championships.
With NU getting the chance to train alongside Creamline, the Lady Bulldogs are eager to absorb as much as they can from one of the Philippines’ top club teams.
“As of now, maganda-ganda naman po yung pinapakita namin sa training. We had recent tune-ups against pro teams, and sometimes nagkaka-joint training kami with Creamline. Malaking bagay siya for us kasi nakikita namin yung sistema ni Coach Sherwin and kung ano pa yung pwede namin ma-adapt,” Belen shared.
“Siyempre, masaya and nakakachallenge din siya for us kasi yung Creamline, champion team din. Matagal si Coach Sherwin doon, parang naka-100 percent adapt na yung Creamline, so kami, paunti-unti namin siyang pinupulido,” she continued.
“Pag nakikita namin siyang ginagawa ng Creamline, na-aamaze pa rin kami. Kasi may chance na pwede kaming maging ganito — may possibility na maging ganon kaganda yung galaw namin kapag pinatuloy namin yung pag-master sa system ni Coach Sherwin.”
NU begins its Season 87 campaign on Sunday against La Salle at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
