National University’s Bella Belen in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. Photo from UAAP Media/Neo Garcia. MANILA — National University flexed its form to take down University of Santo Tomas in their final elimination round game of the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament.

Despite coming off a two-week break since their last game on April 13, the defending champions showed no signs of rust and survived the tough challenge from the Tigresses on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

READ: National U complicates UST’s twice-to-beat chances after winning 5-set thriller

Bella Belen stood out anew, putting up 26 points, 17 points, and 13 receptions, but what mattered most for the two-time MVP was how her teammates also played crucial roles in their victory.

“I'm very happy kasi nakita kong lumaban yung teammates ko, kahit ganon kapagod kasi actually, sobrang nakakapaod yung game,” said Belen, who is the Season 87 frontrunner for the league’s top individual honors.

“Siyempre, gusto rin ng UST manalo, pero yung teammates ko, hindi ko nakitaan ng takot sa mga mata nila. Kahit pagod kami, gagalaw pa rin kami ng tama,” she added.

Coming into this game, Belen was the UAAP’s fifth-best scorer with 220, third-best spiker with 36.31% success rate, best server with an average of 0.63 aces per set, fifth-best in digging with an average of 2.73 per set, and third-best receiver with a 44.44% efficiency.

But even with these numbers, Belen believes she is yet to reach her peak.

“Masasabi ko, hindi pa masyado,” said the outgoing senior. “Paunti-unti pa, kasi ganun naman talaga kahit sino sa amin. Kailangan, kada game, nagi-improve kami kahit kaunti, lalo na’t papasok na po sa Final 4.”

“So kung kaya pa naming may ipakitang bago every game, and mas taasan pa yung paglalaro namin, yun yung gagawin namin. Ganon naman po kami lagi, hindi kami nasa-satisfy sa kung anong naging performance namin,” she added.

Much like in Season 86, the Lady Bulldogs will be facing Far Eastern University in the Final 4 with a twice-to-beat advantage.

Last year, the Lady Tamaraws stunned them in Game 1 to force a deciding contest.

Belen shared how that loss still stings, which is why they are being extra cautious ahead of their semifinals matchup.

“Natuto na kami,” she said. “Grabe yung sakit na naramdaman namin that time, so ngayon, mas magiging gutom kaming manalo, lalo na't yung FEU, pataas po yung laro nila.”

“Buti na lang may days pa kami para makapag-prepare sa FEU. So focus muna kami ulit sa FEU. Yung sa game namin ngayon, titignan namin kung ano yung naging kulang namin, mga dapat ginawa namin,” she added.