National University may have already clinched its spot in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Final Four, but Sam Cantada knows her current level is still far from where she wants to be individually.
The Lady Bulldogs secured their Final Four berth after sweeping the UE Lady Warriors, 25-19, 25-14, 25-14, on Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The sensational rookie out of Dasmariñas, Cavite was one of three leading scorers for NU, alongside Vange Alinsug and Arah Panique, with 11 points apiece.
However, UE also managed to expose what is considered Cantada’s main weakness—her reception.
The UAAP Season 87 High School Girls’ Volleyball MVP finished with only two excellent receptions out of 10 attempts and was also responsible for three aces conceded to the Lady Warriors.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Una ko talagang dapat gawin is pagtrabahuhan ko talaga yung pasa ko. Kasi for sure po tatargetin nang tatargetin po talaga ako,” said Cantada, well aware of what she still needs to improve.
“Kailangan ko talagang maging matapang po sa pasa. Kasi alam ko po, yun po yung weakness ko or yung kulang ko po. Pero siyempre hindi naman po ako papayag,” she continued.
As a whole, despite holding a 9-3 record and sitting solo second in the standings, the Lady Bulldogs are still searching for greater consistency and sharpness.
NU will close its elimination round campaign against undefeated De La Salle University Women’s Volleyball Team next Sunday, before facing Final Four aspirant UST Golden Tigresses on April 22.
For NU, the Final Four is not the end goal but merely a step toward what they truly aspire for—a three-peat championship.
“Siyempre, we’re very grateful that we’re here. Siyempre, yung hardwork it always pays off, so hopefully it doesn’t end in just being in the top four. Hopefully, we get to be up there, siyempre we want the twice-to-beat advantage, and we want to play the championship games,” said NU head coach Regine Diego.
“For me, happy ako kasi nakuha na namin yung Final Four, pero hindi pa yun yung goal namin. So I think pagtrabahuhan pa talaga namin and alam ko rin naman, especially yung mga teammates ko, na hindi pa kami tapos sa goal namin mismo,” echoed captain Vange Alinsug.
