MANILA — Bella Belen hopes to see a "more courageous" and "heart-driven" Capital1 for the next Premier Volleyball League (PVL) tournament.
As the Capital1 super rookie's PVL All-Filipino campaign ended abruptly after a 20-25, 16-25, 28-30 loss to Galeries in the play-in tournament, Belen lamented the team's lack of heart and courage in tough games she claimed were "winnable."
Belen also regrets that she could have "done more," although she already had an all-around game of 21 points, 12 digs, and nine receptions — including clutch hits late in Set 3 that kept the squad alive, but ultimately went to waste.
READ: PVL: Galeries takes down Capital1 to advance in play-ins
"Kapag tough situations, I feel like kaya ko. Pero siguro, mas magiging maganda nga siguro kung buong team siguro. Pinag-usap nga kami ni coach Jorge [de Brito] kanina na parang it’s all about mental game talaga siya — 'yung tapang, 'yung puso sa paglalaro kailangan nandoon," she told reporters on Tuesday at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
"Nakakalungkot kasi pakiramdam ko kaya naman sana namin. I feel like meron pa sana akong ginawa to contribute sana sa team para mapanalo sana namin," she added.
"Sana maipanalo namin 'yung mga games namin na kaya naman talaga naming ipanalo. 'Yun 'yung nakaka-frustrate, kasi 'yung alam mong kaya sana namin talunin 'yung team na 'yun, kaya namin ipanalo 'yung game pero 'di namin nagawa."
Belen also hopes to see discipline and better on-court decision-making for the team.
READ: PVL: Capital1 weathers Galeries scare to earn win to conclude prelims
"Siguro 'yun, pero before mangyari 'yun, kailangan mag-umpisa talaga sa discipline ng player. Pro na po kami, so kailangan mas disiplinado na kami kaysa sa mga collegiate players. So ayun, 'yun lang naman gusto ko makita sa team — kung paano kami lumaban sa dikdikan na laban at sa mga laban na dapat namin ipanalo," she said.
"Siguro lahat lalo na 'yung in-game adjustments namin. Feeling ko, 'yun 'yung nilamang sa amin ng ibang teams — kumbaga mabilis silang mag-adjust during games, lalo na 'yung mga decision-making and all. Feeling ko doon nag-lack 'yung team kasi 'yung skills, nandiyan na. Siguro konting tapang pa for the team."