Diego not worried about Cantada’s confidence at all
It’s a technical problem, not a confidence one.
At least, that’s how National University coach Regine Diego sees the dip in performance of prized rookie Sam Cantada amid high expectations following two strong opening games in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball action.
Cantada, who was leading the tournament in scoring heading into the Lady Bulldogs’ duel against Far Eastern U last Saturday, the defending champions’ third game in a week, struggled against a defense that seemed to target her specifically.
It seemed like almost every time Cantada forayed into the net, two tall blockers were fronting her.
As a result, she finished with just 11 points in a difficult 17-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-21, 15-12 come-from-behind win against the Lady Tamaraws.
“We don’t have a problem with her confidence levels,” Diego said. “We just need to improve her skills and increase the variation of her attacks. Other than that, we don’t have a problem with her.”
State U next
Cantada had a smashing debut when she scored 21 points, 14 receptions and five digs in her debut against the University of Santo Tomas. She followed that up with 17 points, nine receptions and five digs against Adamson in NU’s second game.
Diego feels the dip against FEU was the exception and that the firebrand hitter will bounce back immediately.
“This is Sam we’re talking about,” she said. “She’s not the type of girl to back down just because she had a bad game or she got blocked a lot of times. That’s not her character.”
Cantada has a chance to get her deadly form back when the Lady Bulldogs try to hike their winning run to four as they battle State U on Saturday at UST’s Quadricentennial Pavilion.
