What drives Bella? A winning end to storied UAAP career
There are similarities to Bella Belen’s first two years in the UAAP and her last two. She is hoping, however, for a different ending.
“The feeling now is more of excitement for me, because back then I was younger and had some older teammates to look up to,” Belen told the Inquirer in Filipino.
National University was in a 65-year championship dry spell before the arrival of Belen, who helped the Lady Bulldogs to the historic title run in just her first year in Season 84 of the women’s volleyball tournament, where she became the first-ever Rookie MVP.
As a freshman, Belen came to a squad teeming with talents like Cess Robles, Jen Nierva, Ivy Lacsina and Kamille Cal. And when those stars departed, National U surrendered the crown to La Salle and another super rookie in Angel Canino the following season.
It’s that part of her UAAP history that Belen obviously doesn’t want repeating in her last dance. She wants to leave National U as a reigning champion.
“Now that I am one of the seniors on the team, I help guide the young ones,” she said. “So I feel excited, because we can see how us seniors grew as players and as teammates.
“[I hope they] see how we brought ourselves to where we are now. And since this is our last [playing year], we are playing every game giving everything we have,” said Belen who, like Alyssa Solomon and a couple of other stars, is set to turn pro later in the year.
As the defending champions, the Bulldogs, now handled by champion coach Sherwin Meneses, are on top of the field and have the first twice-to-beat bonus in the Final Four.
They close out the eliminations against familiar rival University of Santo Tomas, which National U has dominated since last season’s second round, a four-game sweep counting the last title series.
“We should end our last game the right way, because after that, everything will come by fast in the semis and then the Finals, if ever,” Belen said. “So even if we have gotten the [semifinal protection], we shouldn’t be complacent.”
“Our hunger to get the win should still be there, because the twice-to-beat is not our goal this season—it’s only a stepping stone for us to get our main goal, which is the championship.”
And the reigning MVP won’t be holding anything back in helping her Lady Bulldogs in holding down the fort. Again.
“This is my last [UAAP] elimination [round], might as well give my best.”
