Rookie Sam Cantada had no qualms doing the dirty work for the NU Lady Bulldogs as they avoided another upset axe at the hands of the UP Fighting Maroons in UAAP Season 88.
The NU Lady Bulldogs let first-year player Sam Cantada take the reins en route to a five set win over the UP Fighting Maroons, 24-26, 25-17, 21-25, 25-18, 15-8, for a bounce back win in UAAP Season 88 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
Cantada, who had exited their last game against UP due to a shin injury, was eager to make up for lost time, unleashing a career-high 32 points alongside 13 excellent digs, and 18 excellent receptions to help NU bounce back for a 6-2 slate.
She became the highest-scoring Lady Bulldog since Alyssa Solomon's 34-point explosion against the DLSU Lady Spikers in Game 2 of the finals in UAAP Season 85 -- where NU lost.
After the match, Cantada deflected the credit as an overall team effort.
"For me po collective effort naman po yung nangyari so hindi lang po ako yun. Kinecredit ko po yun sa mga kateammates ko po kaya ko nakuha yung points na yun," she said.
Talking about motivations, Cantada said that it was less of a personal score to settle against the Fighting Maroons, and more of a sense of urgency as the Lady Bulldogs hope to reassert their contender status.
Ending the first round with a loss against finals rival La Salle, Cantada said that they needed a big win to get things going.
"Siyempre po galing din kami sa talo which is sa La salle po so pinanghugutan lang po namin yung game namin sa La Salle so in-all out lang talaga namin yun. It’s now or never na po talaga," she said.
Cantada rallied the Lady Bulldogs, who also relied on Arah Panique's 19 points. Only the two players were in double-digit scoring for NU.
They helped the Lady Bulldogs power through against an upset-minded UP, who gained the 2-1 set advantage over NU before faltering in the final two sets.
Jelai Gajero led UP's efforts with 22 points while Kianne Olango added 20 markers in the losing effort that sent the Fighting Maroons crashing to a fourth straight loss.
Aiming higher
But even as she continues to take on a bigger role for the Lady Bulldogs, Cantada is eager to keep working on herself.
Poised as one of the next big things for the Jhocson-based squad, the 19-year-old takes all the pressure of leading a champion team in stride.
"Siguro normal naman po talaga habang nananalo po kami or kapag natatalo po kami, normal naman na mataas lagi yung pressure [pero] andiyan naman lagi yung teammates ko to handle it well," said the first-year player.
"And sa training naman is mas kumpiyansa naman na po, may natututunan na po akong bago na naaapply ko sa game. Ayun kumpiyansa lang talaga sa sarili and tiwala lang naman po sila sa akin." she added.
As for lining herself up with the likes of Solomon with her jaw-dropping performance, Cantada was nothing but grateful for having the opportunity to flaunt her skills.
"Siyempre po grateful po ako kay Lord kasi nabiigyan niya po ako ng talent kung ano man po meron ako ngayon. Siyempre hindi pa naman po tapos so hindi po ako magsstop kasi wala pa naman po e hindi pa kami champion eh," said Cantada.
"So kailangan pa namin mag aim pa po and pagtrabahuan pa po."
The Lady Bulldogs brace for another tough assignment this weekend when they face the FEU Lady Tamaraws on Sunday, March 22, in their second round encounter.
—
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.