Veteran Princess Bello redeemed herself from a lackluster showing last game as she steered three-time defending champion Arellano University past Lyceum of the Philippines University in four sets, 27-29, 25-20, 25-25, 25-18, on Tuesday in the NCAA Season 97 women's volleyball tournament.
And the graduating open spiker said her outstanding performance was spurred by the speech head coach Obet Javier gave her prior to the game.
"Ang nangyari kasi kinausap ako ni coach na ibalik ko 'yung dating ako kasi lagi niyang sinasabi na hindi ko na kilala 'yung Bello na matapang, na palaban," Bello shared.
"So nung training inisip ko na kailangan ko nang bumalik sa dati kong ako na palaban. Ayoko kasi na makita ako 'yung pinakamatanda [pero] ako 'yung nakikita nilang napanghinaan ng loob."
Against the Lady Pirates, Bello poured in a double-double 15 points and 15 digs as the Lady Chiefs bucked a slow start to eventually running away with a four-set win.
But in the previous defeat, Bello was hardly felt, notching just two points in a sweep loss to San Sebastian College-Recoletos last Saturday.
Javier, meanwhile, said he just reminded his ladies to just limit their errors, especially on the service line if they want to beat a talented team like Lyceum.
"Kailangan talaga na paulit-ulit mong sabihin sa mga players yung kahalagahan ng service. 'Yun lang sinabi ko, kung gusto talaga natin manalo dito, kailangan 'di tayo magmimintis sa serve tapos nung fourth set," the decorated coach said.
"Kung gusto natin manalo, dapat ito na 'yung last set. Hindi pwedeng makuha pa 'to ng Lyceum."
—JMB, GMA News
