Bella Belen and NU celebrate during a win over FEU in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball Final Four.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
LIVE: UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball Final Four
MANILA, Philippines — Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon refused to give up their twice-to-beat advantage after Far Eastern University, once again, pushed National University to its limits in the Final Four of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
Before completing a title redemption tour last season, NU was forced to a Final Four rubber match by the fourth seed FEU.
READ: UAAP: NU Lady Bulldogs return to finals, rally past FEU
Solomon and Belen on taking charge in the fifth set. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tz8yA03QPm
— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) May 3, 2025
A year later, the Lady Bulldogs dropped the first two sets as the gritty Lady Tamaraws moved a set closer to forcing another decider. But Belen and Solomon willed their team back to pull off a reverse sweep, 20-25, 22-25, 25-23, 25-14, 17-15, for their fourth straight finals appearance on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Until the end, FEU saved two match points before two-time MVP Belen closed out the game with two consecutive kills.
“I think we were just the ones who reminded the team that, hey, it’s the fifth set—we have to give it our all. As seniors, we have to be the ones showing the fire. When my teammates see that we, the older ones, aren’t tired yet, they’ll feel the same—‘If they’re not tired, then I shouldn’t be either,’” said Belen in Filipino after dropping 24 points and 14 digs.
“We just reminded them: Let’s keep fighting. We’ve already made it to the fifth set. All our effort would go to waste if we lost now.”
READ: UAAP: Top seed NU braces for hungry FEU in Final Four
Solomon, who had 21 points, decided to nail the killer blows in the last two sets to send their team to the finals for a chance to win their third crown in four seasons.
“We’re the veterans on the court, we’re the ones who should lead and move first so the younger ones will follow,” said the star opposite spiker.
“We had a rough start, and by the third set, I told myself, ‘We have to get this set, or that’s it. We’ll play next game.’ So my mindset was just one point at a time.”
NU battles the winner of the twice-to-beat La Salle and University of Santo Tomas, who are still clashing in the Final Four.
In their last games for NU in the finals, Belen and Solomon vow to leave everything on the floor.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
“When it comes to the finals, everything resets. So it really comes down to who wants it more. For us, we need to recover first because that game was intense. Then we’ll go back to the drawing board and figure out what we could’ve done better this game and what else we need to improve before the finals,” Belen said.
“In the finals, it’s really all out. Whoever wants it more and is willing to give everything, that’s the team that will win. That’s how I’m going to approach it,” added Solomon.
