THE scoreline may have suggested a comfortable sweep, but Creamline admitted Bella Belen was far from easy to deal with in its 25-18, 26-24, 25-20 win over Capital1 on Saturday.
READ: Creamline sweeps Capital1 even after another Belen 20-point game
Familiarity helped the Cool Smashers brace for the Solar Spikers’ main weapon, with Jia de Guzman and Jema Galanza having shared the court with Belen during their Alas Pilipinas stints over the past two years.
Still, Belen’s 26-point explosion in just three sets proved she remained a constant threat, even against one of the league’s most stacked rosters.
“‘Yung number one kay Bella dyan, she's very competitive like what we expected. As much as we want to put a stop to her scoring, ine-expect namin na she will keep scoring and she will fight until the end,” said de Guzman.
“Iba kasi ‘yung experience na meron si Bella ngayon, coming from ‘yung international stint niya rin and paano niya rin dinadala ‘yung Capital1.”
For de Guzman, containing Belen required a collective defensive effort rather than individual brilliance.
“She’s becoming and she’s blossoming to be an all-around good player. It was quite hard to stop her when she's on the run, pero wala, team effort talaga to stop someone like her,” she added.
Bella makes 'em work
Galanza shared the same view, having known Belen not only as a national teammate, but also as a roommate during several Alas campaigns.
Creamline entered the match fully aware that Capital1’s system revolves around its star winger, making discipline and composure key to neutralizing her impact.
“Nakaka-challenge lang kalaban si Bella kasi siyempre, ‘yung Creamline, talagang magwo-work as a team, pero siya, nagdadala niya ‘yung team niya,” said Galanza.
“Hindi naman mananalo kung siya lang, pero makikita mo talaga sa kanya ‘yung fighting spirit niya.
“Siya ‘yung hindi susuko at siya pa ‘yung magbibigay talaga ng motivation sa teammates niya kaya sobrang happy lang for her na ang laki na at mas gumo-grow pa siya sa pros.”
Despite the straight-sets victory, the Cool Smashers made it clear that stopping Belen remains a task that demands full team effort, attesting to the Solar Spikers' superstar’s growing influence on this level.
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.
