NU’s 1-2 punch of Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon continue to ramp up their performances as the Final Four approaches for UAAP Season 87.
There’s no satisfying the hunger of NU duo Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon, even as they enter the Final Four of UAAP Season 87 as the top seed with a 12-2 record after a five-set victory over the UST Golden Tigresses in the last game of the elimination round Sunday.
Despite being at the top of their game, both seniors hope to bring even bigger performances for the defending champions, both aiming to end their careers with NU with back-to-back UAAP titles.
For MVP frontrunner Belen, there’s a need to continue stepping up, especially as they go up against a dangerous foe in the FEU Lady Tamaraws.
With their sights set on their third title in the last four seasons, becoming stagnant isn’t just going to cut it.
“Sa ngayon masasabi ko, hindi pa masiyado [ako nasa top of my game]… masasabi ko paunti-onti. Kasi ganoon naman talaga… Kahit sino naman samin kailangan kada game nagi-improve kami, kahit kaunti lalo na papasok na sa Final Four,” said Belen.
“Kung kaya po namin na may maipakita pa na bago every game, mas taasan pa ‘yung laro namin, ‘yun ‘yung gagawin namin. Ganoon naman kami lagi, hindi kami nasa-satisfy sa nilalaro namin.”
Against UST, Belen uncorked another triple-double of 26 points, 17 excellent digs, and 13 excellent receptions — six of her points were scored in the fifth-set clincher.
[READ: NU fights off UST in 5 sets as Golden Tigresses miss outright UAAP Final Four bonus]
Meanwhile, Solomon, who supplied the match-clinching point, said that the development doesn’t stop for either of them, especially for herself as she recovers from an injury earlier this season.
Now with their crown on the line, nothing is standing in her way to continue improving, even if the other Final Four teams currently have no wins against the Lady Bulldogs for the whole of UAAP Season 87.
“I think meron pa naman po [iimprove sa performance]. Hindi naman kasi kami nagsasawa mag-improve eh so parang lagi kaming hinahabol na standard ba sa sarili namin na dapat every single day, nagi-improve kami,” said Solomon.
“Hindi yung nagsa-stuck kami kung nasan kami," she added.
Solomon had 23 markers in the victory for NU, which extended their win streak over UST to five games.
Now, Belen, Solomon, and the rest of the NU Lady Bulldogs shift their focus on recovery and final preparations before they go into battle beginning next weekend. NU will be hard-pressed to avoid another do-or-die game in the semis against a tough FEU side.
Last year, the Lady Tamaraws pushed NU to a winner-take-all Game 2 in their Final Four encounter.