By MARK REY MONTEJO
National University further embellished its status as the new heavyweight of the UAAP women’s volleyball after winning its third championship in four years and first-ever back-to-back titles.
NU’s incredible journey – Season 87 in particular – has proven once again that familiarity, chemistry, and determination are very importance recipes to one’s success.
Credit that to the great vision of the management.
From their teenage days, Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon have blossomed into a potent force, their brilliance somehow rubbed off on their teammates that ended the La Salle’s and Ateneo’s dominance in the premier collegiate league.
The latest title win of the Lady Bulldogs was extra special.
And very sweet, too.
That’s because Belen, Solomon, Erin Pangilinan and Sheena Toring will be leaving NU with heads high and so much prise as they ended their playing years with a bang – thanks to 25-19, 25-18, 25-19 win in Game 2 to complete their mastery over the Lady Spikers.
They have defeated the Taft-based squad four times this season to highlight their show of force.
The 22-year-old Belen stressed that the long and strong relationship with her teammates spanning more than a decade or since high school played a vital role in building a dynasty.
“Iba po kasi talaga ‘yong bond na meron kami and malaking bagay po talaga nagkakasama-sama kami since high school, kasi iba po talaga ‘yong nabuo namin relationship on and off the court,” said Belen.
“Siguo ‘yon po talaga isa sa mga nakatulong samin kaya po namin nakamit ‘to,” added Belen who is now a proud owner of three MVP trophies.
The four mainstays all came from the NU juniors squad which became one of the dominant teams in the high school division. Lams Lamina, Vange Alinsug and Shaira Jardio were also part of the program and are expected to be the next important persons of the Jhocson-based squad.
“‘Yong mga teammates ko matagal konang mga nakasama ‘yan, parang halos 11 years ko na sila nakasama, so pag pag ni-look back ko ‘yong panahon ko sa NU sila agad ‘yong unang maalala ko,” said an emotional Belen.
“Hindi ‘yong championship, hindi ‘yong mga trophy, kumbaga ‘yong samahan namin kasi ‘yong ‘di mapapalitan ng kahit sino, ‘yong nabuo naming samahan,” Belen added.
“Nando’n ako, nakita ko kung paano ka-hard working ‘yong mga teammates ko na kahit anong ipagawa mo gagawin nila,” Solomon continued. “‘Yong memories namin sa lahat ng hirap ng sitwasyon kasi magkakasama parin kami na hinaharap ‘yon and sama-sama rin kaming gumagawa ng paraan para malampasan ‘yon.”
Alinsug and Jardio looked set to assume the mantle of leadership after being named as co-MVPs of the best-of-three finals series, providing ample support that went pivotal against their fellow talent-stacked La Salle that boasted the likes of Angel Canino and Shevana Laput.
“Saken sobrang laki, kasi gusto kong i-lead ‘yong team namin, siguro ‘to narin ‘yong time na ma-lead namin sila kasi mawawala na ‘yong mga veterans namin,” said Jardio.
“May award man o wala, still kami parin ‘yong magli-lead sa susunod, kaya room of improvement lang talaga kasi mahaba-haba pa ‘yong tatrabahuhin namin,” added Alinsug.
NU’s triumphant runs from the past years, is indeed, a testament of how time and hard work can build champion teams.
