NEW CORE, SAME BITE
National University unveiled a new ace in Sam Cantada, a rookie the Bulldogs will ride to another title in the post-Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon era that started in UAAP Season 88.
The lefty showed her worth on Sunday night, when she rose to the occasion in front of Belen and 15,214 others at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, as she capped a game-long brilliance with three aces that led to the Bulldogs getting off their three-peat bid in style.
As the Bulldogs faced the prospect of being dragged into a fifth set with University of Santo Tomas only needing two points to win the fourth with a 23-19 lead, Cantada delivered the telling blows in a 25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 26-24 nipping of the hard-fighting Golden Tigresses.
And she trooped to the service line fully confident, even though her serve could be the weakest part of her game.
“In my mind, I felt like I was really being tested in training. My serves weren’t good—I was inconsistent,” Cantada, also a product of the NU high school program, said in Filipino. “That stuck with me, and I told myself I had to overcome that.
“I needed to really fight through it, especially because I see my teammates fighting just as hard,” added the 18-year-old Cantada.
New NU coach Regine Diego said Cantada’s impressive debut of 21 points—capped by seven of the last 10 points—was built by her hard work and dedication behind the scenes.
“To be honest, I know a lot of people might say Sam’s play was just luck,” Diego said. “But I’ve seen her do that so many times already. That’s who she is—that’s her character.
“She’s a true fighter, especially in crucial games. I never doubted her,” Diego, NU’s fourth coach in as many seasons, went on. “I was confident she was going to deliver until the very end.”
Gold standard
Filling in the big shoes of three-time UAAP MVP Belen was a lot of pressure for the NU freshman, but she never wavered, making sure to follow the gold standard set by the former top Bulldog.
“The pressure on me is really intense because Bella left such a high standard,” Cantada, who also had 14 excellent receptions, added. “But of course, my coaches and teammates are there for me—they help me every training and keep pushing me to improve.”
Vange Alinsug also stepped up with 18 points, while Arah Panique, who finally got a chance to step out of the shadows of former UAAP Best Opposite Spiker Solomon, also delivered for NU with 15 points.
Abe Pono started as the main playmaker with 13 excellent sets and seven points, but Lams Lamina finished the game in the fourth. Libero Shaira Jardio had 20 excellent receptions and 14 digs.
Angge Poyos powered UST with 18 points, while Avril Bron, Xyza Gula and Julia Balingit added 10 each.
