BELLA Belen isn’t making too much of what has been described as a longstanding ‘swagfest’ between National U and La Salle.
Title rivals in two of the last three seasons, the on-court swagger of both teams led by Belen and her fellow rookie-MVP Angel Canino has been front and center in recent history.
From the NU captain herself, spicing up their matches with fierce displays of emotions on the taraflex is normal and nothing personal.
“Ako kasi, kapag nilabas ko kung ano yung ako kapag naglalaro, du’n ko nakikita na ginaganahan yung team kasi kahit sa training, ganito ako eh,” Belen said after the Lady Bulldogs yet again triumphed over the Lady Spikers.
READ: Belen-Solomon outguns Canino-Laput as NU keeps foot on La Salle's neck
“Sa training, inaancha ko yung teammates ko. Pati yung coaches namin, yung assistants namin kasi nakiki-training sa’min, nag-aanchahan kami.
“Parang normal lang naman sa’min yun kasi du’n namin nae-express kung paano namin nae-enjoy yung laro.”
Join the fun
Belen made it clear that whenever she puts on her swagger on the court, it’s never a form of retribution or an active pursuit of ‘out-swagging’ her opponents.
If she was to think and act that way, the National U skipper knows she’ll lose sight of what really matters - the pursuit of winning.
As she put it, “Feeling ko, ‘pag inisip ko na kailangan ko bumawi ng 'swag,' mawawala ako sa laro kasi ano ba pinunta mo dito? Mag-swag ka lang? Hindi para maglaro?”
Belen added: “Ako naman, (iniisip ko), ‘Ah, ok, nag-swag sila sa’min. Cute.’ Ok lang kasi part naman yun ng game. Wala namang mali du’n kasi ganun sila mag-celebrate kaya kung paano kami mag-celebrate, gagawin lang din namin.
“Hindi naman nasa utak namin na every game. kailangan mag-swag, ganyan. Kailangan lang naming ilabas kung paano kami maglaro.”
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