Sam Cantada powered defending champion National University past her former school Adamson University, 25-23, 25-19, 28-26, securing the Lady Bulldogs’ second consecutive win in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Wednesday afternoon at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.
Fresh off her 21-point debut against the UST Golden Tigresses last Sunday, Cantada — who played two seasons for the Lady Baby Falcons before transferring to NU — had the upper hand against former teammates Shaina Nitura, Abby Segui, and Fhei Sagaysay in their first collegiate meeting, giving the ‘three-peat’-seeking Lady Bulldogs a strong 2-0 start.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Actually, wala naman na emotions. Okay na rin talaga kami, okay na. Hindi na para isali pa, game is game lang. Labas na yung mga ganyan,” Cantada said. She finished with 16 points — 12 of which came in the first two sets — on 13 attacks, two aces, and one block, alongside nine excellent receptions and five excellent digs.
The 18-year-old outside spiker from Dasmariñas, Cavite, joined forces with opposite spiker Arah Panique and setter Abe Pono in the sweep. The three NU take an early lead in the eight-team field with back-to-back wins over two formidable contenders: the Lady Falcons and the Golden Tigresses.
“Syempre, I am very proud of them and happy, even though nahirapan kami. I think it’s one way for us to learn more, and we have to gel more because we’re not new to this, but we have to gel pa more since this is kind of a new team. We just have to stay humble and continue,” NU head coach Regine Diego said.
In a tightly-contested third set, the Lady Falcons clawed back from an early 12-15 deficit. Back-to-back hits by Nigerian spiker Frances Mordi, along with an Eloi Dote block on Cantada, gave Adamson a set point at 24-23.
However, Cantada, the Season 86 Girls’ Volleyball MVP, extended play with a down-the-line attack. Two crucial errors — a Dote service fault and a Nitura attack that sailed wide — then gave NU match point at 27-26.
The Lady Bulldogs sealed their second straight win with a service ace by Alexa Mata, ending the thrilling match in one hour and 31 minutes.
NU had established a 2-0 set advantage as Cantada converted a down-the-line kill in the second set, followed by back-to-back Panique points — an off-the-block hit and a block on Nitura — to finish off the 25-19 triumph.
Panique tallied 12 points on eight attacks and four blocks, adding four excellent digs. Vange Alinsug contributed six points, nine excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions.
Chamy Maaya added six points on four attacks, one block, and one ace, while Mata also scored six points on six attacks, two blocks, and one ace.
Pono dished out 14 excellent sets alongside three points and two excellent digs. Then Shaira Jardio provided 11 excellent receptions and eight excellent digs.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Adamson, meanwhile, fell to 1-1 after opening the season with a dominant win over Ateneo de Manila University last Sunday.
Nitura led the Lady Falcons with 18 points, seven excellent receptions, and six excellent digs, bringing her total to 34 points across the first two matches.
Mordi stepped up when Nitura struggled, finishing with 17 points on 16 attacks, alongside five excellent digs and three excellent receptions. Rookie opposite spiker Abby Segui added six points on five attacks and seven excellent receptions.
NU aims for a third consecutive win against Far Eastern University, while Adamson looks to bounce back against the University of the East on Saturday, February 21, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
