IT has been a year to remember for Bella Belen, a season that can be described as the biggest yet in her skyrocketing career.
READ: Angel Canino believes La Salle won't be pushovers despite rebuild
After winning a second UAAP title and an MVP with National University, she has gone on to shine in the international stage carrying the banner of her school and country.
Belen, alongside fellow Lady Bulldogs spikers Alyssa Solomon and Arah Panique, flew the flag in their Alas Pilipinas debuts before donning their own blue-and-gold colors in a sixth-place run in the 2024 Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship.
Safe to say, it was a year that changed her in more ways than one.
Patience is a virtue
If there’s one thing Belen really took to heart over the last 10 months, it’s how staying patient with herself and her teammates can really go a long way.
That hasn’t been the case, unfortunately, when NU’s two-year, 28-game Shakey’s Super League win streak was snapped by modern-day rival La Salle which beat her school, 30-32, 25-14, 22-25, 21-25, in their championship game.
While tipping her hat to the rebuilding Lady Spikers, Belen acknowledged how their defending champion tags won’t mean a thing if resting on their laurels is all they’ll do from here on.
“Ako, feeling ko ‘yung pagiging patient sa paglaro. Nakita naman namin na nawalan kami ng patience (sa La Salle). Kumbaga parang naiinis agad kami sa sarili namin, sa teammates namin kapag nag-eerror kami. Hindi kami agad nakaka-move on,” Belen shared to SPIN.ph.
‘Yung La Salle, naglaro sila nang maayos. Nakita namin na nag-perform talaga sila nang maayos. Kami, hindi kami nakasagot du’n sa ginagawa nila sa’min. Kailangan siguro namin maging mas patient sa isa’t isa at kailangan naming magsipag pa.”
Better now than later
Preseason meets allowed teams to commit early hiccups thus giving them enough time to make amends and sharpen their game when the real thing arrives.
And this is what makes Belen grateful.
A defeat such as the one handed by La Salle gives the Lady Bulldogs time to correct the errors, learn some lessons and be ready when the UAAP season comes around to defend their title next year.
“I’m very thankful din na nangyari nang ganito kaaga. Nakita namin kung ano pa ‘yung mga lapses namin.”
Belen added: “Sumali kami sa international stint at nakita namin na meron pa kaming kayang gawin, meron pa kaming kayang puliduhin para sa campaign namin this UAAP.
“Siguro ngayon, kinapos kami, Nag-perform nang maayos ‘yung La Salle, hindi kami nakasagot nang maayos, na-outsmart nila kami. Kailangan pa ng konting sipag at tiyaga.”
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