NU's Belen, FEU's Cacao stand tall in UAAP volleyball week

MANILA, Philippines — With the UAAP Season 87 volleyball Final Four right around the corner, the main guns of the women's and men's top-seeded teams shone the brightest in the final week of the elimination round. 

At the end of the eliminations, the National University Lady Bulldogs and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws are standing tall on the mountain of the women’s and men’s divisions, respectively. 

And in the thick of it are NU team captain Bella Belen and FEU setter Ariel Cacao. 

For their stellar performances in their teams’ unbeaten run this week, the two stalwarts were named the Collegiate Press Corps' UAAP Players of the Week honors presented by the Philippine Sports Commission for the period of April 23-27. 

Most Valuable Player frontrunner Belen poured in a dazzling performance for the Lady Bulldogs in a gritty five-set win over the UST Tigresses on Sunday, which triggered a play-off for the twice-to-beat advantage between UST and the DLSU Lady Spikers. 

Here, she produced 26 points on 24 attacks and two blocks, to go with 17 digs and 13 receptions, to give NU a 12-2 win-loss finish at the end of 14 games.

Showcasing all-around brilliance the whole season thus far, she finished the elimination round with five triple-doubles.

Still, the two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player believes that she has not reached her peak yet.

“Siguro po, personally, masasabi ko hindi pa masyado. Like, paunti-unti, kasi ganoon naman talaga kahit sino sa amin. Kumbaga, kailangan, kada game, nag-i-improve kami kahit kaunti, lalo na’t papasok na po sa Final Four,” Belen bared after the five-set thriller.

“So, kung kaya pa naming may ipakita pang bago every game, and mas taasan pa 'yung paglalaro namin, 'yun 'yung gagawin namin. Ganoon naman po kami lagi, hindi kami nasasatisfy sa kung anong naging performance namin.”

Belen edged out teammate Lams Lamina, FEU’s Gerzel Petallo, La Salle’s Angel Canino, UST’s Angge Poyos and back-to-back Player of the Week Adamson’s Shaina Nitura for the weekly plum deliberated by print and online reporters covering the collegiate beat.

For his part, Cacao was instrumental in FEU’s four-set drubbing of the DLSU Green Spikers last Saturday.

Cacao tossed a whopping 29 excellent sets against La Salle in a preview of their Final Four matchup. He also had a point off an attack in the win. 

The setter edged out teammate Dryx Saavedra, NU’s Jade Disquitado, UST’s Josh Ybanez and La Salle’s Noel Kampton for the citation supported by Discovery Suites and World Balance as minor sponsors.

Cacao’s playmaking helped FEU hike its record to 13-1, making it their second year in a row as the top seed in the men’s tourney. 

Despite the team being the top-ranked team and enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage in the next round, FEU head coach Eddieson Orcullo is tempering the squad’s confidence especially since they are facing a dangerous Green Spikers squad.

“Sa amin, siguro ganun kami ka-excited na papasok ngayong week, kung paano namin ipe-peprepare ang sarili namin para dun sa semis. 'Yung 13-1 na standing, ano nga yan e, it does not count. Wala na 'yun. Kumbaga, 0-0 na ulit,” Orcullo said.

“Dun kami ulit manggagaling ulit ngayon.”

Cacao’s FEU Tamaraws and Belen’s NU Lady Bulldogs are expected to return to action in the Final Four beginning this weekend, May 3.