Bella Belen, NU Lady Bulldogs get big wake-up call in streak-busting loss
MANILA, Philippines — Bella Belen said National University’s first loss to University of Santo Tomas after sweeping last year is a big wake-up call for them early in the UAAP Season 85 women’s volleyball tournament.
NU’s 20-game winning streak was shattered by the Eya Laure-led UST as the Lady Bulldogs absorbing their first loss of the season, 23-25, 25-27, 25-17, 25-22, 15-11, on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“Ang sabi sa amin kanina. Hindi lang po wake up call. Kasi yung Adamson, parang kinalabit na kami. Pero ngayon, parang sinipa na kami,” said Belen, who scored 17 points and 14 receptions.
“Kumbaga para magising na kami, hindi porke’t na-sweep namin last season ay magiging madali sa amin ngayon.”
(This is not just a wake-up call. Because against Adamson, they were already giving us a tap. But this time, we were kicked. We have to wake up that this season won’t be easy even though we swept last season.)
Belen and her batchmates Alyssa Solomon, Lams Lamina, Sheena Toring, and Erin Pangilinan experienced a loss for the first time since their final game in High School last 2019 when the Nazareth School swept all its 14 games in the Season 82 girls’ tournament until their perfect 16-0 season last year and winning their first two games this season.
The Lady Bulldogs gave up 38 errors, including the crucial miscues in the fifth that led to their first loss since April 27, 2019 against the same team but a different line-up.
Belen, the last season’s rookie MVP, said they have to go back to the drawing board after sliding to a 2-1 record tied with UST.
“We have to prepare well in training. Our loss today is a wake-up call. We can’t be complacent just because of last season. We will be challenged this season,” Belen said in Filipino.
Belen credited UST’s hunger in the fifth set as it also drew clutch attacks from Regina Jurado and Milena Alessandrini.
“It was a good game. UST prepared well and as coach said they were hungry in the fifth set. They wanted the win more than us. We have to improve going back to the next game,” she said.
But if there is a silver lining from their first loss, at least the Lady Bulldogs are free from the pressure of keeping their win streak alive.
“We said in the locker room that the pressure was lessened for us because we haven’t lost a game since high school. We will just focus on our team and the things we need to improve more,” Belen said.