THE brightest lights in collegiate volleyball, all of a sudden, were blinding even for former juniors champion and MVP Sam Cantada.
The outside spiker proved herself to be one of the key cogs in National U's march back to the finals, so much so that she's days away from hoisting the Rookie of the Year trophy.
In Game 1 of the UAAP Season 88 Finals, however, Cantada didn't look like the heir apparent to Bella Belen who will marshall the blue-and-gold to the next phase of its dynasty.
Having no answers for the La Salle wall and visibly rattled throughout the match, she was limited to just one attack and one ace - and afterward, she was the first to admit that the moment may have gotten the better of her.
“Overwhelmed po. Siyempre, first time po,” she said. “Pero andyan naman po yung mga ate para gabayan po ako.”
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Indeed, the good news is that several seniors remain who have grown accustomed to this atmosphere, one of them being Vange Alinsug - who actually may very well be the player who best understands what Cantada is going through.
Vange is Sam, Sam is Vange
Three years ago in the Season 85 title series, Alinsug was herself a Lady Bullpup-turned-Lady Bulldog trying to do her part in protecting NU's crown against the oncoming Lady Spikers.
Now older and carrying the responsibility of leading this title defense for Jhocson, Alinsug sees a younger version of herself in Cantada.
“Sabi ko sa kanya na kaya mo yun, hindi siya ‘yan,” she shared with SPIN.ph. “Sabi ko, naniniwala ako sa kanya na kaya niya. Kasi alam kong bago talaga sa kanya itong UAAP na ganito kalaki.”
The reigning co-Finals MVP revealed that she immediately approached their prized rookie after the loss - not just as a skipper trying to lift up a teammate, but as someone who once overcame the same overwhelming moment.
“Kinausap ko lang siya na napagdaanan ko kung ano yung napagdaanan niya ngayon,” she said. “Grabe din talaga yung pressure, pero kailangan niya ma-overcome yun.”
With Alinsug's words of wisdom, Cantada vows to bounce back, as the Lady Bulldogs go all-out in trying to stay alive.
“Hindi pa naman po tapos,” she said. “Start po ulit akong kumuha ng kumpiyansa sa training, kasi doon naman po talaga lahat nagsisimula.”
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