Back-to-back Rookies of the Year and Most Valuable Players Angel Canino of De La Salle and Bella Belen of National University shared a meaningful moment after the Game 2 of their best-of-three finals series in UAAP Season 85. Canino, who succeeded Belen as this season’s Rookie-MVP, steered the Lady Spikers to their 12th championship crown in the tournament following two thrilling five-set victories in their title showdown. *Angel Canino of the La Salle Lady Spikers and Bella Belen of the NU Lady Bulldogs show sportsmanship after their championship showdown. (UAAP Media)*
But the championship series didn’t come just like any other game as it saw both teams exchanging on-court antics including the gold old stare down competition with every point that demands it. Canino and Belen, though, laughed off the stare-down spree and claimed that whatever happened inside the court was all part of the game. “Deserve naman talaga niya ‘yong award. ‘Yong pinakita niya this season sobrang ganda from defense to offense, makikita naman talaga na nagtrabaho siya. ‘Yong passion nandoon din talaga, and very proud rin sa kanya kasi nakasama ko na siya before. I know na grabe rin ‘yong sipag ni Angel kaya nakuha niya ‘yong mga awards na ‘yon,” Belen said. Despite failing to defend their title, Belen remained generous with her compliments to Canino and the rest of the Lady Spikers, who pulled off a reverse sweep against the Lady Bulldogs after being down by two sets to avoid a series extension and eventually take home the crown. Belen has also cleared the air and claimed that the players are friends outside the court. “I think ‘yong mga gumagawa lang naman [ng issues] is ‘yong mga fans. Kasi part naman siya ng game. So, iniisip nila magkaaway or what. Pero sa labas ng game, magkakaibigan naman talaga kami,” added Belen. The 19-year-old Canino, for her part, also gave credit to Belen and the NU squad for coming through with a gallant effort. “Nag-congratulate lang din naman po siya and I told her na she did her best throughout this season and sabi ko ang galing galing nila. Pinahirapan din naman po nila kami, so isa sila sa pinaka malakas na team talaga sa UAAP. So hanga po ako sa kanila ‘yon ‘yong sabi ko,” Canino said.