NU Lady Bulldogs celebrate their third straight Shakey’s Super League championship.–SSL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Dominating La Salle in the Shakey’s Super League Pre-season Championship Finals to complete a historic “three-peat” doesn’t guarantee success for Bella Belen and the National University Lady Bulldogs in their title defense in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament next year.

Belen won her second SSL MVP this year after leading NU to a 2024 season sweep with a 23-25, 25-18, 25-16, 25-20 victory over La Salle in Finals Game 2 to clinch their third straight preseason title on Sunday night at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Their third title this year — including their successful redemption season in UAAP Season 86 last May — won’t stop Belen and her teammates from being hungry for more.

“Nakita namin na dikit lang talaga yung laban. So for me, hindi ako gano’n ka-satisfied sa ginawa namin ngayong game. And siguro yung motivation lang namin is to move forward and to aim higher pa sa mga susunod na laro. Lalo na yung UAAP, siya yung big league for college,” Belen told reporters.

“Looking forward kami maglaro sa UAAP kasi alam namin lahat ng teams aangat pa, marami pa silang iimprove. Hindi kami magpapatalo, hindi kami magpapahuli, magiimprove at magiimprove pa kami.”

NU swept the University of Santo Tomas in the UAAP Season 86 Finals for its second title in three years. The Lady Bulldogs paired it with the SSL National Invitationals championship last July, beating Far Eastern University.

Their 28-game unbeaten run was snapped by the Lady Spikers in the second round but it didn’t stop the Belen and Co. from achieving their third preseason title in the third SSL season.

The two-time UAAP MVP believes their successful year will just raise their standards now that they are handled by a decorated coach in the pros in Sherwin Meneses.

“Maganda yung pagkatapos ng taon para sa amin. And siguro dadalhin namin siya, yung mga lessons na natutunan namin for the season, next year. Pupuliduhin pa namin yung mga sa tingin namin kulang Kasi kahit nanalo kami, tingin ko marami pa dapat kaming pagtrabahuan. Marami pa kaming mga lapses na dapat namin tiyagain sa training,” Belen said.

NU will be training in Manila as it expects a series of tune-up games against a visiting Japanese club in its bid to win its third UAAP title in four years.

“Unti-untiin namin, hindi namin mamadaliin e. One day at a time. Balik lang kami sa drawing board. Titignan namin kung ano yung magandang ginawa namin dito sa Shakey’s and kung ano pa yung mga pwede namin pagandahin,” she said.

Belen also won the 1st Best Outside Spiker with her teammates bannering the individual awardees as Alyssa Solomon was named Best Opposite Spiker, Lams Lamina won the Best Setter, and Shaira Jardio brought home the Best Libero.

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UST’s Angge Poyos got the 2nd Best Outside Spikerokebet, while La Salle’s Amie Provido and FEU’s Jaz Ellarina were the Best Middle Blockers.

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