During the last two UAAP seasons, National University has developed into a formidable force in women’s volleyball led by the league’s first-ever rookie-MVP Bella Belen, and multi-awarded opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon.
The Lady Bulldogs wreaked havoc on the opposition in Season 84 (2022) when they became just the third team in UAAP women’s volleyball history to complete a season sweep en route to the championship. The other two were La Salle in Season 67 (2004), and Ateneo in Season 77 (2015).
That year also marked the end of NU’s 65-year title drought and many thought it was just the beginning and more glories were in the horizon for the young and feisty Lady Bulldogs.
Despite predictions of more titles, the Lady Bulldogs failed to score a repeat as the La Salle Lady Spikers seemed to have awakened from the doldrums and made a quick turnaround to win back the crown the following year.
This year, NU seemed to have turned the tide and now has the inside track to lock in the top seed and the all-important twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four.
READ: NU dispatches Adamson to keep twice-to-beat chances alive
Belen and her teammates have learned many important lessons following their shocking win in 2022 and the subsequent losses the last two years and they are now applying them in their quest for a second UAAP crown in the last three seasons.
One lesson that has stuck in the mind of Belen who, by the way, is again a frontrunner for MVP honors, is not ony to start the game strong, but to finish the match stronger.
Simply put, she said the Lady Bulldogs must always stay hungry.
“Lalo na ngayon na patapos na (‘yung season), ang natutunan ko po from Season 84 and 85, dapat kung kailan kami patapos na ‘yung laro, du’n kami dapat mas lalong nagaganahang maglaro, nagaganahang manalo and ‘yung hunger na gustuhin namin ‘yung bawat laro na ipanalo namin,” said Belen.
“Katulad ngayon, wala pa kaming talo (sa second round). Dapat hindi kami maging kampante na hindi kami matatalo. Dapat yung eagerness namin to win, nandun pa rin.”
For Solomon, who has won top opposite spiker nods both in local and international tournaments just three years into her seniors career, maturity is key in finding their footing on the taraflex alongside a sense of enjoyment in high-pressure situations.
“’Yung natutunan ko nu’ng (Seasons) 84 and 85, siguro ‘yung pagiging mature inside the court. Kailangan ‘yun para ma-overcome ‘yung big crowds, ‘yung ingay sa labas na tipong hindi na kayo nagkaka-intindihan sa loob. ‘Yun ‘yung pinaka-importante kung paano kayo mag-cocommunicate sa isa’t is," she said.
She added that enjoying the game even under high-pressure situations, is something her teammates should embrace. " Malaking bagay yun, para marating yung goals namin,” Solomon said.
Belen, Solomon say no room for settling down
Now a win away from finishing the preliminaries on top, Belen and Solomon warned against being lulled into complacency as they move nearer their objective. The road to the top gets tougher as the semifinalists are also plotting their moves, they said.
“Hindi pa tapos ang trabaho namin hangga't ‘di pa natatapos ‘yung season so kahit wala pa kaming talo this second round, hindi kami nag-stop. Hindi naman (Final Four lang) ‘yung goal namin eh. Isa lang ‘yun sa mga goal namin para maabot ‘yung main goal namin (na mag-champion) so kailangan naming maging consistent pa lalo na’t pabigat nang pabigat ‘yung mga susunod na kalaban namin,” Belen said.
Solomon added: "Hindi siya (Final Four) magiging madali kasi halos lahat, nag-step-up na talaga, lahat nag-improve na. Kami naman, kailangan naming lalong igalaw kung ano ‘yung nilalaro talaga namin and siguro i-push pa namin ‘yung isa’t isa to be better every single day."
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