Romwel Anzures

National University rookie Sam Cantada against University of Santo Tomas in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball. UAAP Media.

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ABS-CBN News

<div style="line-height:1.5"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771154416117UAAP 88 WVB NU vs. UST- Sam Cantada-4452.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>National University rookie Sam Cantada against University of Santo Tomas in UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball. UAAP Media.</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — National University opened its three-peat bid with a hard-earned four-set victory in UAAP Season 88 women&#x27;s volleyball.The Lady Bulldogs carved out a 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24 win over University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, with the hitters from Jhocson Street showing championship poise in the endgame.Rookie Sam Cantada delivered a stellar debut, scoring seven of NU&#x27;s last 10 points to finish with 21 markers on 17 attacks, three aces, and one block, while veteran Vange Alinsug added 18 points.&quot;A lot of people will say na chamba yung kay Sam, but I&#x27;ve seen it so many times already,&quot; said Lady Bulldogs head coach Regine Diego of the 18-year-old, who also fired three crucial aces to help NU erase a four-point deficit in the final set.&quot;It&#x27;s her character. She&#x27;s a really good fighter lalo sa crucial times, so I did not doubt her,&quot; Diego added.Arah Panique chipped in 15 points, while Abegail Pono orchestrated the offense with 13 of the team&#x27;s 17 excellent sets.Still, it was Cantada and Alinsug who delivered in crunch time.Trailing 19-23 in the fourth set, the duo took turns unloading kills and service aces to spark a turnaround and seize a 24-23 lead, highlighted by an Alinsug off-the-block hit and a Cantada ace.Although Angge Poyos forced a 24-all deadlock, Alinsug responded with another attack before UST committed a costly attack error which sealed the match.Poyos led the Golden Tigresses with 18 points on 15 attacks and three blocks, while Xyza Gula, Julia Balingit, and Avril Bron added 10 markers each. Their efforts, however, fell short as UST failed to sustain the momentum it gained from its narrow third-set victory.

National University completed a hard-earned victory to open its three-peat bid in #UAAPSeason88 women’s volleyball.

National University completed a hard-earned victory to open its three-peat bid in #UAAPSeason88 women’s volleyball.

UAAP: Cantada takes charge as National U survives UST to start 3-peat bid

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UAAP: Cantada takes charge as National U survives UST to start 3-peat bid

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 15, 2026 07:26 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 15, 2026 08:28 PM PHT

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Volleyball

UAAP

ABSSports

UAAP Season 88

UAAP Volleyball

NU Lady Bulldogs

Sam Cantada

UST Golden Tigresses

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