One of the most enduring friendships in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament transcends team boundaries — the bond between Bella Belen and Detdet Pepito. Despite representing rival schools, their connection remains strong.
As team captains — Pepito for University of Santo Tomas and Belen for National University — both are eager to reignite their rivalry when the Lady Bulldogs and the Golden Tigresses clash in a highly anticipated rematch of the Season 86 finals.
The showdown will cap the first round of preliminaries on Sunday, March 16, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
In their first collegiate finals face-off last season, Belen and the Lady Bulldogs dominated Pepito and UST, sweeping their way to a second UAAP women’s volleyball title in three seasons.
Much like their journey to the previous finals, both squads enter Sunday’s match with impressive momentum — the Golden Tigresses riding a five-game winning streak (5-1), while the Lady Bulldogs remain unbeaten at 6-0.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Despite the competitive tension, Pepito is eager to avenge last season’s heartbreak against her former elementary school teammate.
“Hopefully, makaisa naman kami, Belen. Please. Paisahin mo naman kami. Pa-experience naman oh. Sabi ko sa’yo, grumaduate ka na, bakit nag-stay ka pa? Nakakainis! Pa-isa lang, pa-isa lang Belen,” Pepito quipped after UST’s straight-sets win over Ateneo de Manila University last Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After a shaky start to the season, Pepito has rediscovered her form, now leading the league in digs (4.08 per set) and ranking fifth in reception efficiency (29.63%).
“Nung una po kasing game namin, parang pinressure namin yung sarili namin sa team namin na parang silver tayo last season. Ganyan,” the two-time UAAP Best Libero added.
She admitted, “Nung after FEU game, parang na-realize namin na hindi pala naging healthy, o helpful yung ganong mindset na i-pressure yung sarili. So this time, naglalaro lang kami na nag-eenjoy lang kami, nagsi-stick lang kami sa sistema.”
Staying true to her competitive nature, Belen firmly stated that Pepito’s hope for revenge won’t come easily.
“Hindi kami papayag na maka-isa sila sa amin. Pero at the same time, hindi siya magiging madali for us kasi siyempre, mahirap kalaban ‘yung UST, palaban sila ‘eh. Ang task lang namin [ay] hindi dapat kami matalo. Hindi dapat makaisa si Detdet! ‘Di ka makakaisa,” Belen told One Sports after NU’s sweep of Adamson University last Wednesday.
Belen has been instrumental in NU’s undefeated run, ranking seventh in points (88), sixth in spiking efficiency (34.16%), first in service aces (14 on 0.70 per set), sixth in digs (2.40 per set), and ninth in reception efficiency (28.04%).
“Kailangan on the next games, mas pulido pa yung galaw kasi marami pang teams — halos lahat — pinag-aaralan paano ba kami talunin. Ang challenge namin sa sarili namin is ano pa yung mga kailangan naming i-improve at mga dapat naming i-improve para di mangyari yung ganun na matalo kami,” she concluded.
