By NIKOLE JAVIER
MVP candidate Bella Belen powered National University back to the UAAP Finals with a rout of Far Eastern University in straight sets, 25-13, 27-25, 25-15, in the Season 86 women’s volleyball Final Four on Wednesday night, May 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Bulldogs booked their third consecutive Finals berth as they face the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in the best-of-three championship series on Saturday, May 11.
While UST didn’t use up its semifinal advantage, NU had to take the longer route after being dragged into a do-or-die match by the feisty FEU side last week also in a sweeping loss.
Season 84 Rookie-MVP awardee Belen was in a league of her own as she carried the fight with a superb game-high 21 points built on 16 attacks and five service aces on top of 14 excellent digs.
With her fine showing, the third-year outside hitter was actually the lone player to emerge in double figures from both sides as her usual supporting cast Alyssa Solomon and Vange Alinsug were held to nine and six points, respectively, in the important win.
Even FEU’s pacer Chen Tagaod only managed nine markers to herself and the team in the losing effort.
After the intense second set that saw Belen come alive, the Lady Bulldogs pretty much went off pure effort in the third set and committed no single error for a clean set en route to the victory.
