BELLA Belen was left with more questions than answers following a tough semifinals-opening, straight-sets loss to No. 4-seed Far Eastern University — one which now sends top-ranked National University on the cusp of Final Four infamy in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
But Belen, who is one of the leading candidates for MVP honors, can take comfort from the fact that history will be on their side.
In the league’s Final Four era spanning over 30 years beginning Season 56 (1994), the top-seeds have gone on to reach the championship round each time and no fourth seed has reached the finals.
Belen found it hard to imagine that FEU had beaten them and she could not understand how her team had failed to handle the pressure in contrast with the Lady Tams, who appeared confident and relaxed despite being backed against the wall
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“Masyadong tense ‘yung laro. Parang ‘yung pressure, napunta sa amin (kaya) ni-remind ko ‘yung teammates ko na hindi dapat kami ang nape-pressure kasi ‘yung FEU pag natalo namin sila, laglag na sila so ‘yung pressure nasa kanila. Pero parang ang ending po, ‘yung pressure napunta sa’min,” Belen rued.
“Parang hindi kami makapag-loosen up, hindi namin masyadong na-enjoy ‘yung game, kaya du’n lumabas ‘yung mga miscommunication, ‘yung mga errors, masyado rin pong gigil eh,” she added.
She tipped her hat to the Lady Tamaraws' intensity and determination in a must-win situation. Belen said the Tams were smarter, played the game with nothing lose and proved that they were by not just gate-crashers but are legitimate title contenders.
“Maganda po ‘yung pinakita ng FEU at talagang na-outsmart po kami. Sa team namin, lagi kong nire-remind ‘yung teammates ko na meron talaga akong feeling na baka ma-relax kami kasi natalo namin ang FEU nu’ng Round 1 and Round 2. Sabi ko, huwag dapat kaming makampante (kahit) twice-to-beat kami.”
Belen added: “Dapat hindi na namin paabutin sa do-or-die. Ngayon, umabot na so wala na kaming magagawa (kundi) bumalik sa sistema namin, sa sipag namin, balikan namin kung ano ‘yung goal namin, kung ano ‘yung gusto naming makamit this season and kailangan itatak namin sa utak at sa puso namin na hindi magiging madali ‘yung laban.”
Belen says NU 'still fighting, still believing'
A one-week break separated NU’s prelims-ending win and semis-opening loss to FEU. During that period, Belen rued that the team was incomplete in a few training sessions as some players had to attend classes,
Because of this, Belen said they needed to put in twice the work and effort to balance both loads and stay in top shape physically and mentally.
“Hindi naman (naka-apekto ‘yung break) kasi nagte-training naman po kami and siguro binalikan talaga kami kasi may trainings na hindi kami kumpleto dahil may class. Hindi ko naman sinabing hindi priority ang pag-aaral, pero kumbaga ito na ‘to e, padulo na. Hindi pa naman kami pa-finals so I think kailangan naming magsipag pa,” Belen said.
“Hindi ako naniniwalang matagal masyado ‘yung break kasi nasa sa amin ‘yun eh na kahit wala kaming training, kung kahit wala kaming game, hangga't ang mindset namin mentally and physically nandun, hindi kami mahihirapan,” she added.
Although it's a do-or-die game, it now seems there is more pressure on the Lady Bulldogs as they try not to be first top seed to get eliminated in the Final Four. Belen asserted that the team’s confidence is high as they go for their third finals trip in a row.
“Hindi naman po (nabawasan confidence namin). Kilala ko ‘yung teammates ko, kilala ko yung team ko, kilala ko ‘yung kung ano ‘yung kaya naming gawin. Pangit man ang game (namin versus FEU), masyadong maraming errors, may mga off ‘yung laro, pero alam kong babawi sila,” Belen said.
“Fighter po ‘yung team namin. Natalo kami pero dito masusubok ‘yung pagiging buo namin as a team na hindi kami dapat magsisihan. Tapos na e. Kailangan na lang naming mag-move forward and mag-trabaho.”
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