The irony was not lost on Sam Cantada after leading National University Nazareth School to the top of the 2025 Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League Rising Stars Cup.
Just six months ago, she was facing the very same NUNS team in the UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Volleyball Finals — but then, she was still playing for Adamson University.
Her transfer was controversial, as it’s rare for student-athletes in the UAAP to switch to another UAAP member school in the high school division during the academic year.
Though she has seen the comments on social media, the 18-year-old outside hitter has chosen to tune out the noise.
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
“Siguro hinarap ko lang siya at hindi ko siya tinakasan. Hinayaan ko yung mga tao na maraming sinasabi sa kin,” she said.
“Wala rin naman kasi akong pakialam dun kasi nga po sa character ko, hindi naman nakadepend ang sarili ko sa sinasabi nila. Character ko is kay Lord lang po.”
In the past month, the UAAP Season 87 Girls Volleyball MVP has led the Lady Bullpups to two titles.
In addition to the SGVIL crown, she also powered the NUNS-backed NCR team to victory in the Palarong Pambansa 2025.
Both times, they faced Bacolod Tay Tung in the final.
Their Palaro face-off was a sweep, but their SSL showdown was a five-set masterpiece.
It has been a grueling journey.
“Normal lang po mapagod. Pagod talaga as in kasi isang araw lang yung pahinga. Normal lang mapagod pero sa utak lang kasi yun nagsisimula,” she said.
“Kung ano ang iniisip mo, yun ang ginagalaw mo.”
(C) Roman Prospero/SSL
Now, she looks forward to what’s next.
Cantada is preparing to join the Lady Bulldogs at the collegiate level.
After a journey that took her from Emilio Aguinaldo College to Adamson and now to NU, she hopes this will be her home for the rest of her career.
