Camilla Lamina has already set—and made plays for—some of the best spikers in her UAAP career.
At the top of that list are three-time UAAP collegiate women’s volleyball MVP Bella Belen and two-time Best Opposite Spiker Alyssa Solomon.
Also part of that star-studded lineup are Faith Nisperos, Ivy Lacsina, Cess Robles, and Lamina’s current teammate Vange Alinsug.
For Lamina, a two-time Best Setter at the collegiate level, you can now add Sam Cantada to that impressive roster.
The first-year outside spiker from Dasmariñas, Cavite, has continued to draw praise, including from De La Salle University head coach Ramil de Jesus, who called her a “super rookie.”
“Actually po, very happy kasi si Samantha, very masayahing tao na kahit ano lang i-set mo sa kanya, papaluin niya,” Lamina said of her new star hitter.
“Kahit magkandakuba na siya, wala na siyang pakialam sa set ko minsan, basta magawan niya lang daw ng paraan, kaya nakakatuwang bata ito. Very proud ako sa kanya,” she added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Lamina spearheaded National University’s 25-19, 25-16, 25-15 sweep of Ateneo de Manila University on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, marking a successful bounce back in the Season 88 tournament.
The Lady Bulldogs were coming off a crushing five-set loss to the FEU Lady Tamaraws last Sunday.
Despite only playing in the last two sets against Ateneo, Lamina delivered 12 excellent sets along with three points to guide NU back to the win column.
Cantada, meanwhile, contributed 10 points, highlighted by five service aces.
As the team’s leader, Lamina prioritizes doing whatever she can to stabilize the Lady Bulldogs—whether on the court or on the bench.
“For me, hindi pa tapos yung laban just because natalo kami ng isang game. Siguro, ang inisip lang namin agad is what’s next? And also kailangan talaga namin mag move forward kasi may mga next games pang nakaabang sa amin,” Lamina recalled her message to the team after the loss to FEU.
“As an ate and as a leader, ginaguide ko talaga ‘yung mga bata especially sa dikdikan ‘yung laban, binibigyan ko talaga sila ng advices pagdating sa paglalaro.”
With NU still figuring things out as the elimination round nears its end, Lamina aims to share all her experience to keep their three-peat hopes alive.
The Lady Bulldogs remain in second place with a 7-3 record but have shown vulnerability, suffering defeats against lower-ranked teams like the Lady Tamaraws and UP Fighting Maroons.
#WATCH: LA-MI-NA 🐶
Lams Lamina is grateful to her supporters, who have been chanting her name in #UAAPSeason88 🏐#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/GFy2LWOpVx
📹 @justinvalencia_ /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/l5SJ4aGEAL
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) March 28, 2026
