NU’s Bella Belen and UST’s Detdet Pepito exchanged playful jabs, as they gear up for their highly anticipated showdown to end Round 1 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament this Sunday.
After the UAAP Season 86 finals, the NU Bulldogs and the UST Golden Tigresses will be back at it this Sunday to close out Round 1 of Season 87 women’s volleyball.
And you already know what that means—another showdown between besties NU’s Bella Belen and UST’s Detdet Pepito!
[ALSO READ: UST libero Bernadett Pepito shares ‘nene days’ with former teammate Bella Belen]
Last season, these two had us cracking up with their hilarious banter while still going full beast mode for their teams.
[RELATED: Jeje besties to fierce rivalries: NU’s Bella Belen and UST’s Detdet Pepito are fr1endz 43v3r]
They’re basically the volleyball version of “rivals to ride-or-dies” — all competitiveness on the court, all laughs off it.
There's that time that Belen made a request of Pepito to stop being a defensive specialist for their UAAP Finals showdown.
“So, Det, ito na ‘yong inaasam natin. Gusto mo mag-spiker ka na lang muna sa Saturday? ‘Wag ka muna mag-libero. Okay lang naman! So, see you, Det!” she teasingly said to One Sports.
[ALSO READ: "‘Wag ka muna mag-libero” | NU star Bella Belen leaves a message for her bestie Detdet Pepito in time for UAAP Finals]
There was also that hilarious moment when Belen accepted the Season MVP award.
"And pahiram muna ng tagline ng UST. Ibalik ang korona sa Sampaloc, Manila!" she shouted.
To which Pepito claimed, "Sampaloc din kami!"
[ALSO READ: “Sampaloc din kami”: Competition gets fiercer (and funnier) between NU’s Bella Bellen and UST’s Detdet Pepito]
Fast forward to Season 87: UST is on a five-game winning streak, NU is flexing an undefeated 5-0 record.
The stage is set for another epic clash this Sunday at the Big Dome.
But before all that, it was Detdet's turn to make a small request for her jeje bestie Bella.
"Well, sana makaisa kami, Belen. Please, paisahin niyo naman kami. Pa-experience naman oh," she pleaded.
And then, in true bestie fashion:
"Sabi ko sa’yo, grumaduate ka na, bakit nag-stay ka pa? Nakakainis!"
@onesportsphl “PLEASE, PAISAHIN NIYO NAMAN KAMI” 🤣 UST captain-libero Detdet Pepito has a playful message for her ‘jeje’ bestie and NU captain Bella Belen ahead of their Round 1 showdown between the Golden Tigresses and the Lady Bulldogs in the #UAAPSeason87 women’s volleyball tournament! | via Xander Lauren Cipriano/One Sports #StrongerBetterTogether #LegendsStartHere #OneSports
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
Alexa, play Please Please Please by Sabrina Carpenter. 🎶
Of course, Bella wasn’t about to let that slide.
"Hindi kami papayag na makaisa sila sa amin," she playfully declared, fully in her kontrabida era.
"Hindi dapat makaisa si Detdet! ‘Di ka makakaisa!"
@onesportsphl ‘’DI KA MAKAKAISA!’ 🙅🏻???🤣 NU team captain Bella Belen hilariously responds to her bestie and UST libero-captain Detdet Pepito's message ahead of the Lady Bulldogs and the Golden Tigresses' clash in Round 1 of the #UAAPSeason87 women's volleyball tournament. | via Xander Lauren Cipriano/One Sports #OSOnTheSpot #StrongerBetterTogether #LegendsStartHere #OneSports
? original sound - OneSportsPHL
Will Detdet and the Tigresses finally get their wish, or will Bella and the Bulldogs keep their record spotless? Find out this Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum!
[ALSO READ: UAAP Season 87 volleyball guide: Schedule, results, standings, where to watch, and more]
(With reports from Xander Cipriano/One Sports)