The National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs ended a five-game losing streak against the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers following their four-set win over the Taft-based squad on Sunday, April 14 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Powering NU’s triumph were Vange Alinsug, who poured in the closing blows, and Bella Belen, who bounced back from her two-point outing in their last game with yet another all-around effort.

Both players admitted after the game that they were thrilled with their victory, as they had this particular assignment circled on their calendar.

“Sobrang happy ko po talaga kasi gusto namin ‘tong mangyari ngayon,” said Alinsug, who was awarded with the Best Player of the Game honors.

“Simula pa kagabi, ‘yun na ‘yung mga pinag-uusapan namin. Sinapuso talaga namin at kitang-kita ko po sa lahat na lahat kami gustong-gusto manalo,” she added.

“We’re very happy nga po kasi ‘di pa kami nanalo sa kanila simula last season. So ‘yung mindset talaga namin is matalo sila ngayon at manalo kami ngayon na kailangang gawin namin ‘yung best namin,” added Belen.

“Hindi siya magiging madali kasi champion team ‘yung La Salle. Gusto rin nilang manalo pero dapat mas gusto naming manalo.”

La Salle won all four of their encounters against NU in Season 85, capped by a pair of five-set triumphs in the Finals.

In the first round of Season 86, they were once again victorious in a five-set affair.

The 5-foot-7 star, who previously shared that she was dealing with a minor back issue, also gave an update on her current condition.

“Before po kasi sa training, meron pa rin [sakit]. Pero as a psychology student, it’s all in the mind,” she quipped.

“Kaya ‘pag tinatanong ako ng coaches ko kung masakit likod ko, sinasabi ko na lang hindi. Feeling ko the more na iisipin ko na masakit, the more siya magiging hindrance sa paglalaro ko. So, as a psychology student, it’s all in the mind. ‘Yun po.”

“Siguro, dahil na rin sa adrenaline, at na-feel ko ‘yung support ng bawat isa sa amin. Kung may masakit man o wala, talagang ibinigay ‘yung best. ‘Di lang naman ako ‘yung may nararamdaman sa katawan. Syempre, ‘yung iba meron ding masakit, pero talagang nakita kong nag-perform nang maayos kanina,” she added.

Yet even as they celebrated their breakthrough win over their modern-day rivals, Belen emphasized that the victory is just one of many things that they still need to accomplish this season.

The versatile spiker is putting a premium on consistency as the Lady Bulldogs gear up for the closing stretch of the elimination round.

“Ito pong game na ‘to, malaki siyang confidence booster sa amin knowing na champion team ‘yung La Salle,” said Belen.

“[Pero] ang kailangan na lang namin is consistency since may last two games pa kami sa eliminations. I believe ‘yung trend naman ng team na ‘to ay pa-angat, so I think we’re peaking at the right time.”

Belen also pointed out that there is still a long way to go for the Lady Bulldogs if they want to reclaim the UAAP volleyball title back to Jhocson.

“Ako po personally, ‘di ko pa po ganun masyado iniisip kasi may games pa po,” said Belen. “Lagi lang naman kaming one game at a time. Hindi namin iniisip ‘yung future.”

“Kung ano ngayon, ‘yun ‘yung iniisip namin. Siguro ‘yung championship, darating sa amin ‘yan ‘pag pagtrabahuan namin kasi naniniwala po ako na lahat ng pagod, lahat may kapalit,” she ended.

NU will be going up against Adamson University on Saturday, April 20, at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, and following this is their clash against Far Eastern University for their last assignment before the postseason commences. (ABS-CBN News)