FROM the highs of completing only the second-ever women’s volleyball tournament sweep in UAAP Season 84, National University was sent crashing just a year later when it lost grip of the Season 85 crown to a vengeful La Salle side.
Two years later, the crushing defeat isn’t lost on MVP frontrunner Bella Belen.
READ: NU Lady Bulldogs dominate Game One as UST loses Poyos to injury
Needing just one more win from championship glory, Belen told SPIN.ph how the ghosts of last season became her biggest ‘hugot’ not only for the Finals but for the entirety of NU’s Season 86 revenge tour.
“‘Yung pinaka-hugot ko is ‘yung last season talaga. Nag-Finals din po kami last season at may chance sana kami para mag-back-to-back pero hindi namin nagawa. Isa po talaga ‘yun sa mga hugot namin and sabi namin, kailangan this season, nasa amin ulit (‘yung championship),” said Belen.
“Kahit may mga talo kami, hangga’t hindi pa po tapos ‘yung season, hindi kami mawawalan ng pag-asa na ibalik sa’min ‘yung championship.”
The other thing that left Belen overwhelmed was the sea of fans in blue that matched the mammoth yellow wave of Thomasian supporters in a 20,955-strong crowd for the championship opener at the Big Dome.
Taking the bigger picture into account, Belen took pride in the continuous growth of the sport in the country — one which she believed she helped build as her presence and the kind of attacking game she represents, attracted many fans over the past few years.
“Nakakatuwa po kasi before, ‘yung NU, hindi naman po part ng Finals and hindi naman po ganyan karami ‘yung crowd namin before. Isa naman po kasi sa mga goal namin is maka-inspire ng mga tao na manood. At sa nakikita po namin, talagang lumalaki na nga po ‘yung volleyball dito sa Philippines.
“Volleyball country na ba tayo? Charot! ‘Di ba may basketball? Charot,” Belen said in jest.
“Sobrang saya lang kasi na-aappreciate nila ‘yung mga players na kahit saan, kahit anong game, kahit anong liga, may sumusuporta talaga,” she added.
Belen says no stopping now for NU
With the series against UST still incomplete, Belen warned of overconfidence and complacency and not to lift the foot from the pedal.
"Kahit nanalo kami ngayong Game 1, I think medyo so-so pa rin ‘yung laro namin. I know my team. Alam ko kung ano ‘yung kaya naming gawin. Nakasama ko na sila for ilang years. And for sure, paghahandaan kami ng UST kaya siyempre, kailangang hindi kami magpapatalo," said Belen.
"Kailangan nandun pa rin ‘yung hunger at eagerness namin sa paglalaro na hindi porket nanalo kami ng Game 1, ay okay na na nanalo kami sa Game 1 tapos kailangan sa Game 2 medyo so-so. Ako po, dapat hindi ganun.
"Ang goal nga namin is mabalik sa’min ‘yung championship kaya dapat hindi kami mag-stop hangga’t sa ‘di namin siya nakukuha."
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