NU simply succumbed to pressure against FEU, says Belen

NU Lady Bulldogs PHOTO BY RIO DELUVIO

MANILA, Philippines: The NU Lady Bulldogs simply succumbed to pressure against the FEU Lady Tamaraws.

This is Bella Belen’s assessment of the Lady Bulldogs following their stunning 23-25, 17-25, 23-25 loss to the Lady Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball Final Four at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, May 4.

The fourth seed FEU thus forced a do-or-die game against the top seed and twice-to-beat NU, with the winner getting the right to advance to the championship round.

“The game was so tense and I think the pressure had been placed on us. I reminded my teammates in the second set that we shouldn’t be pressured because if we beat FEU, they’re eliminated right away (unlike us who still have one more chance). They’re the ones who were supposed to feel the pressure but in the end we’re the ones who got pressured,” said Belen.

“We couldn’t play loosely and were not able to enjoy the game and it resulted in our miscommunication, errors. We were overeager. We have to get back to training like we always do and whatever we do there will translate in the actual game.”

Indeed, pressure has gotten the better of NU which committed 25 errors, practically giving a set to FEU which snapped its six-game losing skid to the Lady Bulldogs and ended the favorites’ 7-game winning run.

The Lady Bulldogs’ ‘Big 3’ in Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Vangie Alinsug were also playing below their standards.

Belen was the best performer with 12 points, six excellent digs, and six receptions while Solomon and Alinsug chipped in eight points apiece only.

Belen’s belief in her team that they can get through this is still firm, though.

“I don’t think our confidence is shaken. I know my teammates and I know what we’re capable of. We might have had a bad game, too many errors, some of us having an off game, but I know they’re going to bounce back,” said the Season 84 Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player.

“I know that my team is a fighter and this loss will test how intact we are as a team. We shouldn’t be blaming each other for what happened because it’s already done. We just need to move forward and put in the work.”

The do-or-die game between NU and FEU is set on Wednesday.