Bella Belen and the NU Lady Bulldogs will have one more shot at advancing to the Finals of the UAAP Season 86 women's volleyball tournament.
Top-ranked National University was sent back to reality after yielding to Far Eastern University in straight sets to start the Final Four of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament.
Coming into the match, the Lady Bulldogs were riding high on a seven-game winning streak, going undefeated in the second round. NU had also just swept FEU in the final game of the elimination round, formalizing the 1 vs. 4 matchup.
The loss stung for NU, but star hitter Bella Belen couldn’t help but give props to the Lady Tamaraws for their victory, all while also admitting that her team came into the game too relaxed.
The former Rookie-MVP in Season 84 also admitted that pressure got to NU, most notably during the second set where FEU dominated them.
“Maganda po ‘yung pinakita ng FEU, talagang na-outsmart po talaga kami. Siguro sa team namin, ako kasi lagi kong nire-remind ‘yung teammates ko na meron talaga akong feeling, kagabi pa lang na baka ma-relax kami kasi natalo namin ang FEU, nung round 1 and round 2,” Belen told reporters after the match.
“Parang ang ending, ‘yung pressure napunta sa amin, so parang hindi kami makapag-loosen up kanina, hindi namin masyadong na-enjoy ‘yung game, kaya ‘yun dun na lumabas yung mga miscommunication, ‘yung mga errors, masyado rin gigil eh,” she added.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Chenie Tagaod bares Choco Mucho's Sisi Rondina as motivation during FEU's stunning Final Four sweep of NU]
Luckily for Belen and the rest of the Lady Bulldogs, the perks of being no. 1 include having a twice-to-beat advantage, which has now come in handy as NU looks to take full advantage and book a Finals showdown with idle UST.
[ALSO READ: "Mini Miss UST" complete Season 86 trifecta to dethrone De La Salle as UAAP champions]
“Kailangan lang naming 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 emphasized.
With all eyes on NU and FEU on Wednesday, May 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao at 4:00 p.m., Belen knows that they will be ready for a huge back bounce-back game.
“Kilala ko ‘yung teammates ko, kilala ko ‘yung team ko, kilala ko ‘yung ano ‘yung kaya naming gawin. Pangit man ang game kanina, masyadong maraming errors, merong mga off ‘yung laro, pero alam kong babawi sila,” said Belen.
“Fighter ‘yung team namin eh, ano lang to, talo kami pero dito masusubok ‘yung pagiging buo namin as a team na hindi kami dapat magsisihan. Tapos na eh. Kailangan na lang naming mag-move forward and magtrabaho,” said Belen.