UAAP: Bella Belen explains getting emotional after NU’s “no sweep” victory over

Bella Belen got emotional during the NU Lady Bulldogs’ celebration after defeating the UST Golden Tigresses in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday, March 24.

After ending the UST Golden Tigresses’ fairytale perfect run in UAAP Season 86, Bella Belen was seen with tears in her eyes as the NU Lady Bulldogs sung their school hymn.

Belen, who had another all-around outing for NU with 24 points, 13 excellent digs, and 10 excellent receptions, explained that her emotions came as all their hard work during training bared fruit in their match versus UST.

“Kasi sa training pa lang kasi may sinet na talaga kaming goal kung ano ‘yung gusto namin ngayon sa game sa UST and ayaw namin kasi maulit ‘yung nangyari nung La Salle game na after [the] game meron kaming what ifs, meron kaming panghihinayang,” Belen said during the post-game press conference.

“Siguro naging mindset lang namin is dapat after nitong game wala kaming what ifs, kailangan ibigay talaga ‘yung best namin. Naging emotional kami lahat kasi talagang nakita namin na binigay ‘yung best [namin],” she added.

In their first-round match up, the Golden Tigresses came away with a straight-set victory over the Lady Bulldogs.

Adding salt to their wounds, NU also came up short in their rematch versus the defending champion DLSU Lady Spikers in five sets. Those two are the only losses so far for the Lady Bulldogs.

But this time around, NU found the right game plan to take down UST and hand the Tigresses their first loss of the season.

That’s why Belen couldn’t be happier with how her teammates stepped up to the plate and take this victory.

“I’m very happy kasi lahat sa amin talagang ginustong manalo sa laro na ito. Lagi kong sinasabi sa teammates ko kanina, wala pa silang talo so mas masarap manalo,” said Belen. “Nakita ko naman nagre-respond sila and talagang binigay lang namin ‘yung best namin.”

With this huge victory, Belen and the rest of the Lady Bulldogs will look to continue their solid form after the Holy Week break as they face the UE Lady Warriors on April 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.