BELLA Belen has never really had to take the long road in her volleyball career.
From her high school days to her decorated run with National University in the UAAP, the playoffs were almost always a given. The Final Four was a destination, not a grind.
Medals came often, and only the color ever changed. Now, for the first time in her career, that certainty is gone.
READ: Bella Belen hammers home Capital1's place as eighth seed
In just her second pro conference in the PVL, Belen finds herself staring at unfamiliar territory as she'll have to go through the play-in tournament.
That means up to three do-or-die games in succession, and needing to win all three just to reach the semifinals.
“Very challenging for me, kasi first time ko nga,” Belen said.
For a player who has long lived on the winning side of the bracket, this will be a different kind of test for the multi-awarded 23-year-old winger that demands composure, consistency and survival all at once.
But instead of shying away, Belen is leaning into it.
“At the same time, I’m very excited din sa mga matututunan ko every game. Marami pang games pa before kung gusto mong makapasok sa semis, so marami ka pang kailangang daanang butas ng karayom,” she said.
“The more na challenging siya, the more na gusto kong maglaro dahil mas marami akong natututunan na pwede ko pang i-apply sa mga next games and sa mga next conferences.”
That road starts Tuesday as Capital1 opens its play-in campaign against Galeries Tower, the same team it beat in four sets to close the preliminaries.
If there is anything to build on, it is Belen’s all-around brilliance in that win where she turned in a 23-point, 15-reception, 14-dig triple-double.
This time, though, the stakes are higher without any second chances as only a longer road Belen has never had to walk before awaits.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
