UAAP Season 87 MVP frontrunner Bella Belen shared the reasoning behind her “swag” celebrations in their 4-set victory over the DLSU Lady Spikers.
Take it from NU superstar Bella Belen, “swag” is part of the game in women’s volleyball.
Despite drawing flak from fans most of the time when players show off in their celebrations on the taraflex, two-time UAAP MVP and champion Belen said that it is something par for the course when it comes to competitive sports.
Especially playing for a team like the NU Lady Bulldogs, Belen and her teammates are often engaged in high-level matches, where they are challenged by worthy rivals to the brink of their skill.
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Against former title rivals DLSU Lady Spikers, Belen’s “swag” came to play, particularly in the third set where she engaged in some in-game banter with her teammates when they celebrate their points.
Known for her boisterous personality, Belen repeatedly celebrated with attitude after scoring pivotal points for the Lady Bulldogs, which came to the delight of the NU crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena. On the other side of the net, La Salle repaid the same.
After the match, Belen said that it was never anything personal. Rather, "swag" is something they just use to pump themselves up.
“Ako kasi, pag nilabas ko kung ano yung ako maglaro, dun ko nakikita na para nagaganahan yung team kasi sa training ganito ako eh. Sa training inaancha ko yung teammates ko, pati yung coach namin, yung assistant namin kasi nakiki-training samin yun. Bale parang nagaanchahan kami,” Belen told reporters.
“So, parang normal lang naman sa amin kasi parang, dun namin nae-express yung paano namin ma-enjoy yung laro.”
It wasn’t just Belen, though, as La Salle’s Angel Canino and Amie Provido also had their moments in the exciting game that ended in four sets.
Though the stadium was divided between the two teams, fans seemed like they did enjoy the showmanship by NU and La Salle.
But for Belen, all that mattered is that she was able to encourage her teammates with her antics, especially in a game that was as tight as their battle against the Lady Spikers.
[RELATED: NU improves to 8-0 in UAAP Season 87 as Lady Bulldogs beat La Salle anew]
“Meron ngang times na parang bigla kaming nags-swag and parang di ko inexpect na ganon, yung swag, kasi siguro nadala lang ng emosyon. Kasi sobrang tight nga nung game kanina,” she said.
“[But] ayun, I’m very happy naman kasi naaliw naman yung teammates ko sa mga pinag gagawa namin,” Belen continued.
As for how she deals with opponents dishing it out, Belen said that it’s simply taking what she also gives out in the spirit of sportsmanship.
At the end of the day, both teams are there to play, and not to show out against each other.
“Ako hindi [ko] naman [gusto bumawi ng swag] kasi feeling ko pag inisip ko na ay kailangan ko bumawi ng swag, mawawala ako sa laro. Kasi ano pinunta mo dito? Mag-swag ka lang? Hindi para maglaro?” said Belen.
“Ako naman wala, ah okay, nag-swag sila samin. Cute. Okay lang kasi part naman yun naman ng game. Wala naman mali duon kasi ganon sila mag-celebrate. So kami, kung paano kami mag-celebrate, gawin lang din namin. Hindi naman nasa utak namin na every game kailangan mag swag, ganyan, hindi. Kailangan lang namin ilabas kung paano kami maglaro.”
Expect NU’s showmanship and skill return to the taraflex when the champs face the UP Fighting Maroons at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Wednesday, March 26.