It is with pressure when the cream rises.
That is what Bella Belen has been doing for Naitonal University.
Belen, who tallied 21 points, 12 excellent receptions, and eight excellent digs in a 25-21, 30-32, 25-17, 25-19 win over UP on Wednesday, capped off Sunday with an even better 24-point, 13-dig, 10-reception line as NU ended UST’s historic 8-0 start, likewise in a four-set conquest, 23-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-20.
With those outings, the UAAP Season 84 Most Valuable Player earned her second Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Player of the Week award presented by the San Miguel Corporation for leading the Lady Bulldogs to a big week.
Spotted teary-eyed after the hard-earned win against the Golden Tigresses, the third-year star gushed over how well her teammates performed around her to lift the Season 84 champion squad.
“Ayaw namin kasi maulit ‘yung nangyari noong La Salle game na after the game, mayroon kaming what ifs, mayroon kaming panghihinayang,” said Belen, who earned her second weekly nod this season.
The first-ever UAAP women’s Rookie MVP bested her teammate Vange Alinsug, UST’s Reg Jurado, Ateneo’s Zel Tsunashima, UE’s Casiey Dongallo, and La Salle’s Angel Canino in a unanimous vote for the weekly award supported by minor sponsors Discovery Suites and Jockey.
“Siguro naging mindset lang namin is dapat after nitong game, wala kaming what ifs, kailangan ibigay talaga ‘yung best namin and ‘yun, naging emotional po kaming lahat kasi talagang nakita namin na binigay namin ‘yung best namin,” Belen added.
