Reigning MVP Bella Belen understands the severity of the two losses for the NU Lady Bulldogs in UAAP Season 87.
The NU Lady Bulldogs are sounding the alarm after they were handed their second loss of the year, this time at the hands of the Adamson Lady Falcons during their second round encounter at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
Despite playing without opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon who is out due to a minor injury, two-time UAAP MVP Bella Belen said that they should’ve been able to eke out the win.
[READ: Alyssa Solomon return for NU still up in the air after mild ankle sprain — ‘Let’s see’]
Though they are the first team into the Final Four, Belen said that defending champions aren’t playing at par to what they should be, especially as they’ve been experiencing losses against lower ranked teams — that is, teams outside of the top half of the standings.
With three games left in elimination, Belen underscored the importance of not letting upsets like these happen again, especially as they chase the twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.
“Medyo alarming siya for us. Katulad nung nangyari sa UP, nagkaroon kami ng team meeting kagabi, sabi ko na 'yung teams na makakalaban natin ngayon, nothing to lose na sila. Sila, gusto lang nila gawin 'yung best nila at gusto nila makaupset nung mga nasa taas, kaya kailangan ready kami sa gano'n,” Belen said after the loss.
Falling flat on their faces, Belen said that the Lady Bulldogs were left frustrated at the loss, especially since they could’ve won the game — or even extend it to a 5th set. With a lot more challenges to come, Belen said they’ll need to clean up their act.
[RELATED: Shaina Nitura drops 32 points as Adamson shocks Solomon-less NU in UAAP Season 87]
“Medyo [kami] sad sa dugout kasi sa isip namin, kaya naman namin ipanalo. Sadyang hindi namin nagawa,” she said.
“Talagang may umiyak kanina kasi 'yung frustration ng isang player, hindi naman mawawala ‘yon lalo na pag alam mo sa sarili mo na meron ka pang kaya gawin sana kaso hindi lang nagawa.” she added.
When it comes to the similarities between their loss against Adamson and the initial loss against the UP Fighting Maroons last month, Belen said it all had to do with understanding that teams won’t just roll over against the defending champions.
Belen said that if NU wants the win, they’ll have to work with all their might to take it.
“Siguro nasa mindset pa rin ng bawat player ‘yon. Rinemind din kami ng mga coaches na dapat kami, sa tuwing maglalaro kami, hindi namin isipin na ibibigay sa amin ng madali, lalo na pag yung kalaban namin yung mga medyo lower-ranked teams. Talagang mahihirapan kami ‘eh.” said Belen.
“Dapat sa next games namin, if kaya namin i-dominate yung game, gawin namin. Sabi rin kasi ng coaches kanina na alam nila yung laro talaga namin. Sadyang hindi ko rin masabi talaga kung ano 'yung nangyari.”
Regardless of what happened, though, the Lady Bulldogs will need to lick their wounds, especially as they face another win-hungry team in the UE Lady Warriors in their next game on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena.
Knowing that anything can happen at this point, NU will just need to go back to the drawing board and hopefully get things going again as the Final Four approaches.
“Balik ulit kami sa drawing board at sa training, panoorin namin siguro 'yung game namin today, kung ano 'yung mas maganda namin dapat ginawa at kung ano pa 'yung pwede namin baguhin para sa next game namin, hindi na siya maulit,” she said.
More than skills, though, Belen also said it will be key for the Lady Bulldogs to stay hungry — even if they are the top-ranked team in the league.
“Kailangan mas gutom kami manalo [at] mas gustuhin namin manalo. Kanina sa game namin, 'yung Adamson, kahit kami sa loob ng court or kahit siguro 'yung mga nasa audience, kitang-kita na gusto talaga nila manalo compared sa amin. Ganon naman palagi 'yung laro, na kung sino gusto manalo, ‘yon 'yung nananalo,” she said.