It's not just a wake-up call. The National University Lady Bulldogs' straight-sets loss to the unbeaten De La Salle University Lady Spikers on Wednesday was a huge splash of ice-cold water to the slumbering defending champions.
Any hangover from last year's immaculate run to the UAAP Women's Volleyball title have been relinquished, and realizations that the dream-come-true Season 84 was a very different ballgame has finally sunk in.
Reigning MVP Bella Belen herself admitted that the once invincible squad is lacking something.
"Siguro sa aming mga player, 'yung hunger namin sa paglalaro, medyo nawala po," Belen said in the post-game presser at the MOA Arena.
The Lady Bulldogs will immediately get the chance to prove that they can bite back against the Lady Spikers on Saturday, as Round 2 of Season 85 commences.
Belen, however, knows they have to relive the nightmare of their first-round encounter against the ladies in green, if they want to have a fighting chance.
"Balik po ulit kami sa training, mag-viewing kami kahit masakit sa aming panoorin pero kailangan po e," she said.
"Para mapaghandaan namin sila and makita namin kung ano 'yung naging pagkukulang namin this game."
(With reports from Mei-Lin Lozada, One Sports Digital)