Sam Cantada is treating her first taste of championship heartbreak not as a failure, but as part of the process of becoming better.
The rookie standout of the NU Lady Bulldogs gained a harsh but valuable lesson in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Volleyball Tournament Finals, where NU was dethroned by the powerhouse De La Salle University Lady Spikers.
Led by Angel Canino and veteran coach Ramil de Jesus, the Lady Spikers completed a season sweep to reclaim the championship.
For Cantada, however, competing against established stars like Canino, Amie Provido, Shevana Laput, and Lyka De Leon only strengthened her resolve moving forward.
“Siyempre, grateful din ako na magkaroon ako ng kalaban na ganyan, may experience na,” Cantada shared after the Finals. “Mapupulot ko rin talaga sa kanila kung gaano sila katapang at kung gaano nila kagusto talaga ‘yung game.”
Sam Cantada Struggles on the Grand Stage
The Season 88 Rookie of the Year endured a difficult championship series statistically, scoring just 2 points in Game 1 before bouncing back with 8 kills and 8 excellent receptions in Game 2.
Still, the outside hitter believes NU’s return to the Finals in the middle of a transition year was already a meaningful accomplishment for the program.
“Worth it naman ito kasi linaban talaga namin. Sobrang dami naming napagdaanan. I mean, alam namin sa sarili namin na kaya namin. Pero ‘yung sa dami naming pinagdaanan, parang malaking bagay na ‘yung makaabot kami sa Finals,” Cantada said.
With the Lady Bulldogs expected to retain most of their young core heading into Season 89, Sam Cantada made it clear that NU plans to use the experience as motivation moving forward.
“Next season, siyempre, pagtatrabahuan talaga namin. ‘Yon talaga ang main goal, pagtatrabahuan namin.”
