Bella Belen relied on adrenaline rush in National University’s four-set win over defending champion De La Salle last Sunday, April 14, as she led the way for the Lady Bulldogs despite nursing a back injury. 

The Season 84 Rookie of the Year-MVP previously had her lowest output in her UAAP career after only scoring two points in NU’s game against Ateneo last April 10. 

With mind over matter prevailing for the third year psychology student, nothing could have stopped Belen this time as she delivered 14 points that went with a defensive effort of 14 receptions to make up for her prior performance. 

“Pag tinatanong ako ng coaches kung masakit ‘yung likod ko sinasabi kong hindi. Feeling ko the more na iisipin kong masakit ‘yung likod ko, the more siyang magiging hindrance sa paglalaro ko,” said Belen. 

“As a psychology student, it’s all in the mind. Dahil na rin sa adrenaline,” she added in jest. 

“Na-feel ko rin ‘yung support ng bawat isa sa amin. Kung may nasakit man o wala talagang binigay ‘yung best. Kasi hindi lang naman ako ‘yung may nararamdaman. ‘Yung iba meron din pero lahat nag perform ng maayos. Talagang one hundred percent ‘yung katawan namin.” 

It was NU’s first taste of victory over the Angel Canino-less La Salle since their championship showdown in Season 84. 

Sans Canino, who is nursing a right arm injury herself in the Lady Spikers’ rotation, the Lady Bulldogs remained unbeaten in the second round with five victories in a row. 

With massive wins over top seed University of Santo Tomas and La Salle, NU rose to the top place of the standings with a 10-2 card for a potential twice-to-beat edge. 

“We’re very happy kasi hindi pa kami nananalo sa kanila simula nung last season so ‘yung mindset talaga namin is matalo sila ngayon, na manalo kami ngayon na kailangang gawin yung best namin kasi hindi siya magiging madali kasi champion team yung La Salle eh,” said Belen. 

Belen, though, stressed that the squad prepared well having Canino in mind, whether she was playing or not did not matter as the focus was always on themselves. 

“Kami kasi talaga nag-prepare. Hindi namin inisip na hindi maglalaro si Angel. ‘Yung preparation namin the past few days [before the match] inisip namin na maglalaro siya,” said Belen. 

“It’s a team sport, so hanggat buo kami walang naliligaw sa amin, hanggat isa lang ‘yung goal namin magagawa namin at walang imposible,” she added. 

In 2022, the Lady Bulldogs ended a 65-year drought after sweeping their way to the championship title. 

But Belen refused to get ahead of herself as NU still has two more remaining games in the eliminations against Adamson on April 20 and the peaking Far Eastern University on April 24. 

“Personally, hindi ko pa masyado iniisip ‘yung kasunod nitong elimination round. May remaining games pa kasi. Lagi lang kaming one game at a time, hindi namin iniisip ‘yung future [beyond the upcoming game]. Kung ano ‘yung ngayon, ‘yun lang talaga iniisip namin. ‘Yung championship darating ‘yan sa amin kasi naniniwala ako na lahat ng pagod may kapalit,” she concluded.