National University and Adamson University clash for the early lead in an explosive UAAP Season 88 collegiate women’s volleyball showdown today (Wednesday) at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.
It promises to be an epic midweek duel between rookie Sam Cantada and last season’s top newcomer and history-maker Shai Nitura, as the league holds its first college volleyball outing in España at 11 a.m.
Later, Far Eastern University and University of the East aim to bounce back from season-opening defeats in an all-UBelt clash to cap the QPav quadrupleheader at 5 p.m.
In the men’s division, ‘six-peat’-seeking Bulldogs take on the dangerous Soaring Falcons at 9 a.m., while last season’s runner-up Tamaraws face the Red Warriors at 3 p.m. Tickets for the Adamson–NU and UE–FEU doubleheaders are sold separately.
The Lady Bulldogs showed promise in their first match in the post-Bella Belen era. Cantada shone in front of 15,215 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena last Sunday, posting 21 points and 14 receptions in NU’s 25-25, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24 win over University of Santo Tomas.
The match seemed destined for a decider when the Tigresses reached two points from set point, but Cantada delivered a masterclass in the service area, firing three aces in the Lady Bulldogs’ 7-1 finishing run.
Cantada will be tested by the Lady Falcons, who boast a solid offensive core led by Nitura, Nigerian Frances Mordi, and rookie Abby Segui, along with crafty playmaker Fhei Sagaysay. Incidentally, Cantada played for Adamson’s high school team in Season 87 and emerged as the girls’ MVP before transferring to Jhocson.
“’Yung kalaban po sila, hinding hindi sila papayag, kilala ko po ‘yan, ‘yung ugali nila pero siyempre hindi rin po kami papayag. Gagawin din po namin ‘yung best namin palagi,” Cantada said.
First-year coach Regine Diego ensures NU won’t rely solely on Cantada, as last season’s co-Finals MVP Vange Alinsug and Arah Panique are ready to step up offensively. Veteran setter Lams Lamina provides calm leadership in case Abe Pono struggles.
“We just have to play our game again, go back to our training, linisin lang namin ‘yung mga kailangan pa naming linisin. We just have to prepare, scout them, every game naman we do that. Kailangan lang namin i-review nang ireview kung sino ‘yung mga kalaban namin all the time so that we can adjust and linis ng galaw namin,” Diego said.
Coming off a solid off-season, the Lady Falcons are determined to make a strong push. Coach JP Yude knows his team needs a collective effort to beat the Lady Bulldogs, whom they defeated, 25-23, 15-25, 28-26, 25-22, in the second round last year.
Nitura, who scored 16 points in Adamson’s 25-19, 25-18, 25-10 season-opening win over Ateneo, is grateful for the support from her teammates, many of whom have been with her since high school.
For Nitura, the focus remains on the Lady Falcons’ game, especially as the Lady Bulldogs remain in top form with Cantada.
The Lady Tamaraws and Lady Warriors, meanwhile, are trying to avoid falling to 0-2 early. FEU stumbled to La Salle’s 1-2 punch of Shevana Laput and Angel Canino in a 19-25, 14-25, 25-27 loss. Gerz Petallo was the lone Lady Tamaraw in double digits with 11 points but struggled late in the third set, prompting coach Tina Salak to call for full-team involvement to remain a Final Four contender.
UE, for its part, put up a fight in the third set and early fourth set before bowing to University of the Philippines, 12-25, 9-25, 25-21, 19-25. Second-year Bea Zamudio showed promise in the Lady Warriors’ season debut, which is expected to rely heavily on veterans Van Bangayan, Khy Cepada, and libero Angge Reyes this season.
Despite a roster of national men’s team standouts with rich international experience, NU is taking nothing for granted.
Behind Buds Buddin and Leo Ordiales, NU opened its season with a 25-22, 29-27, 25-19 victory over UST last Sunday. FEU began its redemption campaign with a 25-19, 25-22, 25-19 romp over La Salle last Saturday. UE, on the same day, gave UP a fight before dropping a 21-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-23, 11-15 decision.
All UAAP games air live on the Pilipinas Live app, One Sports, and the UAAP Varsity Channel.
