Belen, Cacao display all-around brilliance

With the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (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, National University (NU) and Far Eastern University (FEU) are standing tall in 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 23 to 27 April.

Most Valuable Player frontrunner (MVP) 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 University of Santo Tomas and the De La Salle University.

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.

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 University’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 La Salle 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.