Bella would rather have MVP ‘on the side’ of third title

NU’s Bella Belen during a game against La Salle in the second round of UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Not that a possible third MVP trophy won’t be special, but Bella Belen isn’t about to have tunnel vision with a long road still up ahead.

“I believe that the awards will always be there on the side. What I need to do is what I can contribute to the team,” the reigning MVP said in Filipino. “It is always about the team effort, so I can’t do it without the help of my teammates.”

The captain of defending champion National University, Belen is once again the front-runner for the prestigious individual award as the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament has entered the second half of its elimination round.

READ: UAAP: Bella Belen: ‘Swag’ is form of expression, ‘part of the game’

With Belen at the forefront, the Lady Bulldogs’ title-retention bid is going splendidly, to say the least, as National has gone 8-0 (win-loss) and with a chance to improve on that on Wednesday as it takes the FilOil EcoOil Centre floor installed as the solid favorite against University of the Philippines.

The first set serve is set at 11 a.m.

Another team seeking a semifinal spot is Far Eastern University, which battles winless University of the East at 5 p.m.

The Fighting Maroons know the value of every win in this round as they chase a slot in the Final Four, which can only happen if they—or any of the next five teams that will face NU—upset the Lady Bulldogs.

Otherwise, a sweep—which Belen wants to achieve to bookend a colorful collegiate career—would give National the first title series slot and relegate the next three teams to a stepladder semifinals.

“I just want to increase the level of my game because there are a lot of talented young players entering the UAAP, so I just want to up the level of the game,” Belen said. INQ