SAM Cantada never tried to do too much after National U's loss to La Salle.
The super rookie simply stayed the course, trusted her game, and came back with a monster response.
Cantada erupted for 32 points, 18 receptions, and 13 digs, as the Lady Bulldogs outlasted exacted revenge on the University of the Philippines in five sets on Wednesday in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball.
READ: Cantada wills NU in blocking UP bid for another upset
It was the highest single-game scoring output by a Lady Bulldog since Alyssa Solomon in the blue-and-gold's Game Two finals loss to the Lady Spikers in Season 85.
By now, Cantada knows big games and bad games alike will always come with noise. She just does not care to play for that.
“Sa akin naman po kasi, I don't please people,” she told SPIN.ph.
“Kahit maganda po ‘yung gawin ko po, may nasasabi’t nasasabi naman po sila eh, lalo na po 'pag hindi po ok ‘yung game ko.”
For the 19-year-old, the bigger picture has always mattered more than outside opinion.
“Hindi ko ginagawa ‘to for them. Ginagawa ko naman din ‘to for them, pero para sa mga nagsu-support talaga sa’min kahit matalo pa po kami. Ginagawa ko po ‘to para sa kanila,” she said.
“Hindi naman din po kasi nagpapa-define kung sino po ako sa kanila, kaya hindi po ako nagpi-please ng tao.”
For all who believe
For all the gaudy numbers, Cantada kept her focus where it mattered.
“Focused lang po talaga ako kasi hindi ko naman po ‘yun goal. Ang goal ko lang po is manalo,” she said.
“Gagawin ko lang po talaga ‘yung best ko every time. Kung ano lang ‘yung matutulong ko sa team, ‘yun lang po talaga.”
And despite a title defense that has already hit a few bumps, the super rookie believes NU is still very much in the fight.
“Sa nakikita ko po, kaya namin siya. Kaya namin makuha ulit ‘yung championship,” she said.
“Hindi po siya magiging madali sa amin. Kailangan namin siya pag-trabaho.”
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