game on saturday
(SM Mall of Asia Arena)
9 am – UE vs ADU (Men)
11am – NU vs FEU (Men)
1 pm – UE vs ADU (Women)
3 pm – NU vs FEU (Women)
Super newbie Sam Cantada played her first match against her former high school teammates, defeating defending champion National University (NU) 25-23, 25-19, 28-26 to take an early singles lead in the UAAP Season 88 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The former UAAP junior MVP from Adamson High School had a stellar performance with 16 points on 13 hits, two aces and a block as the NU Lady Bulldogs took a 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24 lead after a tough four-set start last weekend against rival University of Santo Tomas.
It was a solid follow-up performance for Ms. Cantada, who scored 21 points in that win, making an emphatic statement as the next big thing in women's collegiate volleyball for NU in what is supposed to be a rebuilding phase following the graduation of Bella Belen and company.
Even if it means defeating her former high school teammates like ex-UAAP Junior MVP and last season's Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura, Abby Segui and Faye Sagesse in their debut.
Ms. Cantada committed to NU for collegiate play after holding the Juniors MVP crown in San Marcelino in the 87th season, following Ms. Nitura's MVP campaign and championship sweep the season before.
Ms. Cantada, the pride of Dasmariñas, Cavite, was not alone in leading the way to a big win for the Lady Bulldogs, getting 12 points from another Naga high school sensation, Ara Panik.
Team captains Wenz Alinsug and Chams Maya each added six points, while Abagail Pono added 14 sets and Shayra Mae Jardio provided 11 receptions and eight digs.
New coach Regin Diego, who replaced Sherwin Meneses in the offseason, is liking the team's performance so far in a difficult transition after losing the championship core and four of the team's Super Six, Ms. Belen, Alyssa Solomon, Sheena Toring and Erin Pangilinan.
NU, despite strong resistance from Adamson University in each set, jumped out to a 2–0 lead, but was nearly denied a sweep after losing a 15–12 lead in the third frame.
Ms. Nitura combined with Francis Mordi to give the team a 24-23 point set, but Ms. Cantada forced a deuce, before errors in detail cost her, as Alexa Mata completed the deal with an ace.
Mses. Nitura and Mordi led the way with 18 and 17 points respectively for coach JP Yude's disciples, who failed to mirror their debut 25-19, 25-18, 25-10 win against the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
On the men's side, NU, in search of a six-peat title, also moved to 2-0 after a 25-13, 25-18, 25-15 win over Adamson (1-1), behind the trio of Leo Ordiales, Buds Budin and Jade Discitado with 16, 15 and 11 points, respectively. — John Brian Ulande