By Mark Rey Montejo
Published Feb 12, 2026 09:35 pm
With tons of expectations weighing on her shoulders, highly touted rookie Sam Cantada vowed to make an impact as she gears up for her UAAP women's volleyball debut with National University this weekend.
With tons of expectations weighing on her shoulders, highly touted rookie Sam Cantada vowed to make an impact as she gears up for her UAAP women’s volleyball debut with National University this weekend.
The 18-year-old Cantada, who spearheaded Adamson in the junior ranks including back-to-back finals appearances, is set to don the Lady Bulldogs’ colors when they battle the UST Golden Tigresses on Sunday, Feb. 15.
The Dasmariñas, Cavite native acknowledged the pressure but said the support of her coaches and teammates makes it easier to manage.
“As of now po, mahirap po siya. Pero, d'yan naman po ‘yong mga coaches and ‘yong mga teammates na pwede po silang tumulong po sa akin para ma-overcome ‘yong pressure po,” said Cantada.
“Siguro po, mas tatapang po talaga ako this season. Lalo na po, kailangan po mag-peak ng round 2 po,” she added.
Surely, suiting up for a powerhouse school like NU, which was then powered by decorated spikers Bella Belen and Alyssa Solomon in the previous seasons, is already a daunting assignment for a freshman.
But it was not the case for the 5-foot-7 outside spiker as her transition went smooth after receiving warm reception from the Lady Bulldogs mainstays and veterans.
“Okay naman po sila. They're trying their best naman po mag-lead, lalo na po ‘yong mga ga-graduate na po,” Cantada stressed.
Last May, Cantada started her run with NU after she and the Lady Bullpups represented National Capital Region in last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte.
There, she met senior stars Belen, Solomon, Vange Alinsug, Lams Lamina, and Shaira Jardio, to name a few, who supported them live at the jam-packed PCV Socio-Civic and Cultural Center in Bacarra, a neighboring city of Laoag.
They won the gold medal after beating Tay Tung College (Western Visayas) in the secondary girls’ finals and their reign extended in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) a week later at the expense of the very same Bacolod-based school.
Cantada backs the likes of Alinsug, Lamina, and Jardio, with new head coach Regine Diego, as they go for a three-peat.
“Hindi po magiging madali ‘tong season, pero I think pag lahat kami iisa ng mga teammates ko, may mataas po kami na chance na makuha namin ‘yon,” she concluded.
