BELLA Belen is set to turn pro by the end of UAAP Season 87 - meaning, this will be her final playing year for National U.
In her last chance to complete a UAAP title defense, the reigning MVP would want nothing less in her college swan song than to hoist the team trophy anew.
“Sobrang excited ako to play ngayon kasi this is my final year na nga with NU. Gusto namin mag-back-to-back kasi hindi namin siya nagawa nu’ng [Season] 85,” Belen said, recalling how they lost the crown they claimed in Season 84 to La Salle.
“Ngayon, mas iba ‘yung mindset ng team kasi mas mahirap mag-defend ng crown kaysa umagaw ng crown."
Indeed, the 22 year old has held both ends of the stick when it comes to fighting for UAAP titles.
That’s why the only thing that gives her nerves ahead of her final season solely revolves around her team.
“Ang kaba ko lang ngayong season is kung paano kami magpe-perform. Mawawala na lang ‘yun ‘pag nakikita ko na ‘yung team ko na nagpe-perform nang maayos, (pero) ‘di naman mawawala ‘yung kaba kahit matagal na 'kong naglalaro sa UAAP,” Belen, who has been a league star from high school to college, said.
Outside her team, all preseason chatter about expectations of dominating the league yet again is just noise.
In the words of the outspoken NU leader, people can say what they want, but the Lady Bulldogs will do what they want on their own terms.
As she put it, “Lagi ko lang sinasabi sa team ko na mas kilala namin ang bawat isa, mas kilala namin kung paano kami magpe-perform. Dedmahin lang namin kung ano ‘yung sinasabi ng ibang tao kasi ‘di naman namin sila kasama mag-training, 'di namin sila kasama sa dorm na nagpapakahirap.”
PVL next for Bella?
Still, a big part of all talk surrounding the blue-and-gold is Belen’s future after her time in Jhocson - especially now she has confirmed to be foregoing her supposed fifth and final year of eligibility.
For now, however, the UAAP’s first women’s volleyball rookie-MVP isn’t thinking about the PVL, the draft, or anything about turning pro just yet.
“Hindi ko pa siya masyado naiisip - kung ano ‘yung dapat kong i-perform sa pro. ‘Yung mindset ko is UAAP muna,” she said.
“Tatapusin ko muna ‘yung UAAP (season na ‘to) sa NU nang maganda. Tsaka ko na iisipin ‘yung future. Sa present muna ako mag-iisip.”
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