Sam Cantada was a thorn in the side of her former school, the Adamson University Lady Baby Falcons, as she led the National University Nazareth School Lady Bullpups to a 25-13, 25-22 victory in the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball Invitational League (SGVIL) Rising Stars Cup Division 1 quarterfinals on Thursday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
The UAAP Season 87 Girls’ Volleyball Tournament MVP finished with nine points, including five in the second frame, to lead the Lady Bullpups to the knockout semis on Friday.
Cantada, who was recently recruited by NUNS from Adamson, admitted that there was pressure facing her former school in a winner-take-all quarterfinals match but was glad to have overcome it.
“Sa akin kahit grabe ang pressure kasi syempre po dati kong school ‘yun. Good thing naman na-overcome ko yung pressure at na-handle ko siya ng maayos,” said Cantada after the win.
“Every time na nagkaka-error, nire-remind po namin ang isa’t isa na hindi namin kailangang magmadali and hindi po pwedeng magre-relax kami. Hindi porke’t nanalo kami sa Palaro or yung kompiyansa namin na galing sa Palaro eh magre-relax na kami. And hindi pa naman tapos kasi may goal kami dito sa Shakey’s,” she added.
Jenelyn Jacob and Harlyn Serneche scored seven points each for the Lady Bullpups, who will take on undefeated Emilio Aguinaldo College Lady Brigadiers, a 25-22, 25-16 winner over the King’s Montessori School Lady Vikings in the other quarterfinals game.
