Tovic Salvador

UAAP: Adamson, National U clash for early lead in women's volleyball

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771310417193UAAP 88 WVB NU vs. UST- Sam Cantada-4177.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="NU rookie Sam Cantada during their UAAP Season 88 women&#x27;s volleyball game against UST, February 15, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media" width="960"/>NU rookie Sam Cantada during their UAAP Season 88 women&#x27;s volleyball game against UST, February 15, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media</div>MANILA -- After opening their campaigns with impressive wins, National University and Adamson University are set to clash for the early lead in the UAAP Season 88 women&#x27;s volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.Expected to take centerstage are NU rookie Sam Cantanda, who was sensational in her debut last Sunday, and reigning Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura.First serve is at 11:00 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&#x27;s division, six-peat-seeking Bulldogs take on the dangerous Soaring Falcons at 9 a.m., while last season&#x27;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&#x27;s 25-25, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24 win over University of Santo Tomas.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/2/15/uaap-cantada-takes-charge-as-national-u-survives-ust-to-start-3-peat-bid-1926">READ: Cantada takes charge as National U survives UST to start 3-peat bid</a></div>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&#x27; 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&#x27;s high school team in Season 87 and emerged as the girls&#x27; MVP before transferring to Jhocson.&quot;Siyempre po yun nga po 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,&quot; Cantada said.First-year coach Regine Diego, meanwhile, assured that the defending champions won&#x27;t rely solely on their rising star.&quot;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 ireview nang ireview kung sino yung mga kalaban namin all the time so that we can adjust and linis ng galaw namin,&quot; 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.&quot;So, ayun lang, so we need always to help each other diba na NU kalaban so we know that they are strong team pero syempre kami we&#x27;ll do our best so that makuha namin yung panalo by God&#x27;s will sa Wednesday. So we need to always go back sa drawing board so that na maka-prepare kami ng maayos,&quot; Yude said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1771310450153UAAP 88 WVB AdU vs. ADMU- Shai Nitura-3975.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Adamson&#x27;s Shaina Nitura during their UAAP Season 88 women&#x27;s volleyball game against Ateneo, February 15, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media" width="960"/>Adamson&#x27;s Shaina Nitura during their UAAP Season 88 women&#x27;s volleyball game against Ateneo, February 15, 2026 at the Mall of Asia Arena. UAAP Media</div>For Nitura, the focus remains on the Lady Falcons&#x27; game, especially as the Lady Bulldogs remain in top form with Cantada.&quot;Pino-focus lang talaga namin yung paangat namin at mag-focus kami na mabuo kami. Over time naman, darating na &#x27;yun kung ibibigay ni Lord at kung makita niya na deserve na naman na makuha yung dapat naming makuha,&quot; Nitura said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/volleyball/2026/2/15/uaap-adamson-makes-quick-work-of-ateneo-to-open-season-88-on-winning-note-1615">READ: Adamson makes quick work of Ateneo to open Season 88 on winning note</a></div>The Lady Tamaraws and Lady Warriors, meanwhile, are trying to avoid falling to 0-2 early. FEU stumbled to La Salle&#x27;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&#x27; season debut, which is expected to rely heavily on veterans Van Bangayan, Khy Cepada, and libero Angge Reyes this season.<div> </div><div>NU MEN TEMPERING EXPECTATIONS</div>Despite a roster of national men&#x27;s team standouts with rich international experience, NU is taking nothing for granted.&quot;Parang ang sinasabi nila na kami na yung champion pero sabi ko kailangan namin trabahuhin although lamang kami sa tao, importante i-improve lang namin every day, every game yung gagawin namin para yung pressure at expectation ng tao unti-unti namin makuha,&quot; said Bulldogs coach Dante Alinsunurin.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.

After opening their campaigns with impressive wins, National University and Adamson University are set to clash for the early lead in the #UAAPSeason88 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.

After opening their campaigns with impressive wins, National University and Adamson University are set to clash for the early lead in the #UAAPSeason88 women's volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.