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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volleyball devider Belen, Solomon glad to deliver as NU opens season in style

Belen, Solomon glad to deliver as NU opens season in style

Published Feb 17, 2025 04:54 am

At A Glance

  • Veteran hitters Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon were just glad to deliver as National University opened its title defense in style with a dominant win over De La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament on Sunday, Feb. 16.

Veteran hitters Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon were just glad to deliver as National University opened its title defense in style with a dominant win over De La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament on Sunday, Feb. 16.

UAAP 87 WVB DLSU vs. NU - -1357.jpg
NU Lady Bulldogs (UAAP Media)

Playing under the guidance of Sherwin Meneses, the reigning champion Lady Bulldogs came out strong and swept the Lady Spikers, 25-23, 25-21, 25-18, in front of 16,624 fans who watched the game live at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

For Belen and Solomon, the victory served as a huge relief for NU with all the work they have put in since the offseason.

“Siyempre very important ‘yong first game, since ‘yon nga opening, and dito makikita kung paano namin ipapakita ‘yong pinag-trainingan namin, said Solomon.

“Kung paano namin pinaghandaan namin ‘tong season na ‘to and kung ano ‘yong mga improvement (namin),” she added.

“Talagang tinrabaho talaga ng team… dapat first game maganda ‘yong pasok namin sa season na ‘to, kailangan ‘yong pagtitiyaga namin sa loob ng court nando’n kasi ‘yong La Salle, champion team sila eh,” Belen continued. “Palaban ‘yong La Salle eh, so dapat mas palaban kami.”

The two-time UAAP MVP steadied NU’s ship as she starred with 14 points on 10 kills, three aces and one block while Solomon, for her part, tallied 13 points on 12 attacks. The Lady Bulldogs also displayed great defense as they held Canino to just seven points and put Shevana Laput’s 18-point performance to waste.

Despite the win, Belen knows there are a lot of things to improve as the season goes by, especially with their adjustment to the new system which Meneses wants to apply.

“Pero I think kahit napanalo namin this game, marami parin kaming lapses… so dapat kami hanggang ‘di pa tapos ‘yong game, siguro kailangan naming i-improve pa ‘yong galaw namin,” Belen said.

“Mahaba pa ang season, and first game palang po, and marami pa kaming kailangang i-improve and kailangan pa namin aralin ‘yong system,” she added.

Meneses, meanwhile, was thrilled in his UAAP return, noting it was a great experience to coach in the collegiate ranks again and was happy his wards played well.

“Siyempre La Salle nakalaban namin, tapos three sets pa kami nanalo. Masaya ako sa first game ko sa pagbabalik ko sa UAAP, ‘yong mga veteran players talagang nag-trabaho ngayon,” said Meneses, who was last seen in UAAP as mentor the Adamson Lady Falcons.

Up next for NU (1-0) are the Ateneo Lady Eagles (0-1) this Wednesday, Feb. 19, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

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NU Lady Bulldogs UAAP
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