BELLA Belen’s recruiting pitch for Capital1 started out just for laughs.
Now, it might’ve become the turning point for the Solar Spikers franchise.
Following Cignal’s leave of absence, Belen playfully campaigned for former Super Spikers stars Vanie Gandler and Erika Santos to join her in Capital1, even teasing them non-stop during the PVL All-Star festivities in Candon City last April.
From repeatedly flashing the 'C1' hand sign around Gandler and Santos to pointing out how the blue-and-yellow All-Star jerseys already suited the two, Belen’s antics quickly became one of the more amusing side stories of the event.
Weeks later, however, the manifestation became reality.
READ: Gandler, Santos choose to bask in the sun of rising Capital1
Gandler and Santos chose to take their talents to the Solar Spikers, forming what suddenly feels like the franchise's most dangerous core yet.
“I really manifested and prayed talaga na may makuha kami from Cignal kasi siyempre, with the likes of ate Vanie and ate Erika, malaking help sila sa Capital1,” Belen said during the formal introduction of her new teammates on Thursday.
“Lahat ng tulong na pwede naming makuha, kukunin namin. Yung owners, tinatanong nila yung players, yung coaches na sino ba yung sa tingin namin na pwedeng makatulong for the team sa mga susunod na conference.”
For Belen, though, the recruitment push was never about hard-selling Capital1 outright.
It was moreso about making sure her side at least got the opportunity to present its vision to players suddenly flooding into the open market.
“Lalo na nung All-Star, talagang sinabi ko sa kanila, ‘yung Cignal na kasama ko, na bigyan kami ng chance, like makinig kung ano ba yung direction namin as a team,” she said.
“Sabi ko, at least bigyan kami ng chance na sabihin sa kanila kung ano ba yung gusto namin [kasi] magagaling sila eh, so maraming teams ang gustong kumuha sa kanila. Maraming salamat po kay (team owner) Ms. Milka [Romero] at kay Lord na kami po yung napili talaga.”
Future is now for Capital1
The additions of Gandler and Santos now give the Solar Spikers their most loaded lineup since entering the league three years ago.
More importantly for Belen, she suddenly has proven veterans capable of easing the massive offensive burden she carried throughout her rookie campaign.
And from once trying to beat them across the net, she finds herself preparing to grow alongside them.
“As a competitive player, before, kalaban ko sila, so talagang kailangan, nasa isip ko, ‘Talunin ko sila, talunin ko sila,’” the Rookie of the Year said.
“Ngayon na kakampi ko na sila, siyempre, iniisip ko na kung paano ko pa maiaangat yung level ko in order for me na ma-complement kung ano yung meron din sila at kung ano pa yung pwede nilang ibigay for the team.”
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