Defensive duel? UST star Bernadett Pepito is ready to take on NU ace Bella Belen.
The kulitan is real between besties Bella Belen and Bernadett Pepito.
In a press conference after the matchup between the UE Lady Warriors and the NU Lady Bulldogs, Bella Belen jokingly challenged her longtime friend Detdet Pepito in a libero showdown.
This comes after Belen's impressive digging stint in two consecutive matches against the FEU Tamaraws and the UE Lady Red Warriors.
"Kasi po sa training pa lang, ang nakamindset kasi talaga sakin, dapat 'yung depensa namin is maganda," Belen said. "For me, para mapaganda 'yun is mapakita ko sa team ko na kaya naman namin, na kaya naman ng bawat isa sa amin na dumepensa nang maganda, na maging consistent."
"Laban po kami ni Detdet. Charot!"
[RELATED: MINDSET BA, MINDSET? NU star Bella Belen wants piece of buddy Pepito in defensive duel: “Laban po kami ni Detdet"]
One Sports asked the UST Golden Tigresses captain her response to Belen's playful challenge.
“Baliw talaga! Baliw. Charot!” the UAAP Season 85 Best Libero laughed.
“Ang masasabi ko lang sa’yo, Belen, kung depensahan mo, lalaban ako!” Detdet said.
Laban o bawi? Looks like this UAAP libero queen will not back down from the league's former ROY-MVP.
With her 13 excellent sets and nine excellent receptions during UST's straight-set win against the Ateneo Lady Eagles, as well as her 15 excellent sets in their sixth-straight victory against the UP Fighting Maroons, there is no reason for Detdet to be tense.
“Pero kung palo, go! Ikaw lang mag-isa. Kaya mo ‘yan [laughs]!”, Detdet added.
The UST Golden Tigresses captain knows her strength. So the spiking crown is still yours, Bella!
All jokes aside, we cannot wait to witness the intense volleyball action between the UST Golden Tigresses and the NU Lady Bulldogs in their looming round 2 rematch.
Watch the full interview here:
(With reports from Xander Cipriano, One Sports Digital)