Bella Belen couldn't hold back her tears after Alas Pilipinas Women lost to Indonesia in the bronze medal match of the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. The match was full of tension and heart, with a score of 26-28, 25-13, 28-30, 24-26.
According to Belen, the team is really capable of winning the medal and they are about to reach the podium after the country's 20-year wait. "It really hurts. I really hope so. I saw that the team is capable, but it's not for us right now," she said.
All sets ended in extended frames, with the Alas Women showing their determination and heart in the game. “You need heart when you play. The team really fought hard, but we just fell short,” she added.
Belen believes that the national team program will continue to grow and that Alas Women will go far. “Just because we lost, it doesn’t mean the program is bad. Before, we couldn’t even get close to Indonesia, now we can compete with them,” she explained.
As a representative of Alas Women, Belen promised Filipino supporters that the team will bounce back. “Thank you very much for your tireless support. We will bounce back and we will not let you down.”
