Ace rookie Sam Cantada played for Adamson in high school before heading to the NU Lady Bulldogs for UAAP Season 88.
There was no ill will on either side of the volleyball court as Sam Cantada and the NU Lady Bulldogs triumphed over her former teammates with the Adamson Lady Falcons, with the defending champions claiming a 2-0 start to UAAP Season 88.
Cantada, an up-and-coming rookie for the Jhocson-based squad, played with Adamson during her high school years and was a contemporary to Shaina Nitura, Faye Sagaysay, and Abby Segui. They won the girls volleyball crown in UAAP Season 86.
As their volleyball careers bring them to different shores, Cantada said that they have already moved past any negative emotions they might have felt when the 18-year-old decided to transfer out of Adamson and into NU.
“Actually po, wala na pong emotions. Okay naman na po 'yun talaga… Hindi na [kailangan] para isali. Game is game, labas na yung mga ganon,” she said after the match.
Cantada shone bright in the battle against her former teammates, where she also gained the upper hand against a fellow UAAP Juniors MVP in Nitura.
[RELATED: UAAP: Sam Cantada lifts NU Lady Bulldogs past former team Adamson for 2-0 start]
She finished with 16 points in a resounding three-set win. She was supported by Arah Panique’s 13 markers while Vange Alinsug added an all-around effort of six points, nine excellent digs, and seven excellent receptions.
NU survived Adamson’s gutsy effort, which was powered by Nitura’s 18 points. However, untimely errors doomed the Lady Falcons’ bid.
One-track mind
Still, there was a lot of ruckus going on surrounding Cantada’s move to National U.
Maybe not from players themselves, but fans continued to talk about the youngster’s decision, and whether or not you afforded programs loyalty across different seasons.
At the end of the day, Cantada remained focused on what matters. As she attempts to help NU win a third straight UAAP crown, there’s no room to be distracted. With the rest of the season still ahead of them, she knows what’s important.
“Sabi ko rin naman po kanina before yung game ang minindset ko lang is magfocus lang, and gawin ko lang yung best ko. Kasi 'yun nga po, game is game lang. Like, past na yun, tapos na po yun,” she said.
“And alam ko naman po na ngayon na is ok na sila doon and ok na din ako dito.”
Nevertheless, the love remains for Cantada and the rest of the Lady Falcons.
With players from both sides able to reach new heights in their own career paths, Cantada is left in awe of just how far she and her former teammates have gone.
“Syempre po, I’m happy for each and everyone kasi nakikita ko naman din na gusto din talaga nila though nakakapos [lang], ganun naman talaga,” she said.
“Like sa amin, pwede rin kami makapos every time pero hindi po namin hahayaan na mangyari yun pagtatrabahuan at pagtatrabahuan namin yun.”
And the work doesn’t stop for Cantada and the Lady Bulldogs with the third game of a compressed schedule ahead of them. After playing twice already in the past week, NU faces FEU on Saturday, February 21, to mark their third match in six days.
The Lady Bulldogs hope to gain early ground in the Final Four race with a victory over last year’s semifinalist.
Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.