BELLA Belen is but a building block in National U’s explosive championship core.
Now nearing a week without multi-awarded winger Alyssa Solomon, the reigning MVP has upped the ante with a two-game statline of 17.5 points, 14 receptions, and 11 digs.
READ: Lady Bulldogs vent ire on winless Lady Warriors
However, Solomon’s absence isn’t a precursor to Belen becoming a ‘buhatera’ - or a player who does all the heavy-lifting to steer her team to victory.
It’s all just a matter of playing her part for Lady Bulldogs, a champion side she considers to be an ‘atomic’ unit of sorts.
And that role for Belen goes beyond what she does on the taraflex.
“Ako, hindi talaga. Yung team kasi namin, parang maliliit na atoms. ‘Pag pinag-combine mo silang lahat, parang lalaki o sasabog,” Belen shared with SPIN.ph.
“Lahat sa’min, kayang mag-contribute kaya hindi ko talaga inaako yung term na ‘buhatera.’ I’m always doing my best lang for my team sa kung ano yung kaya kong gawin.
“Hindi lang naman yun in terms of scoring, pero also in terms of pagiging ate, kung paano ko sila iga-guide. Nakaka-help din yun as a senior sa kung ano yung alam kong way na kaya kong tulungan yung team.”
NU let-up
Even after being at the wrong end of an upset here and there, Belen believes National U can still keep the UAAP crown on their heads.
And losing to upstarts such as Adamson and the University of the Philippines won’t dent their title dreams one bit.
“Gusto namin ipakita na hindi porket natatalo kami, hindi na kami capable manalo or mag-champion. Kahit sino naman ngayon, kayang mag-champion, kahit sino talaga,” Belen said.
“Ako, naniniwala na kaya pa rin namin kahit natalo kami. Malaki ang tiwala ko sa sarili ko and sa teammates ko sa kung paano namin ilalaban ‘to hanggang dulo.”
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