Rookie Sam Cantada was as good as advertised.

The prized recruit displayed nerves of steel and maturity beyond her years with a clutch performance in debut game to remember to power three-peat-seeking National University (NU) to a thrilling 25-23, 25-19, 23-25, 26-24, escape over University of Santo Tomas (UST) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Cantada wowed the 15, 215-strong crowd by scoring seven of the Lady Bulldogs’ closing 10-4 run for a rousing start in their title-retention bid post-three-time Most Valuable Player Bella Belen era.

The 18-year-old power-hitter uncorked 21 points scattered from 17 kills, three aces and a kill block to go with 14 excellent receptions and five digs for NU.

“We have a goal. We are the defending champion we don’t have anything to prove but to give our best ever game, that’s already OK for us. Win or lose we know we’ll learn a lot for our next games,” the Season 87 high school Most Valuable Player said.

Skipper Vange Alinsug had 18 points while Arah Panique added 15 for NU.

“Of course, I am very happy and overwhelmed because we got through a very strong team. But you know, it’s still not the end, it’s still going to be a very long journey so we just have to prepare all the time and we just have to put our feet on the ground,” Lady Bulldogs first-year mentor Regine Diego said.

Down, 19-23, in the fourth set, Cantada strung three straight points, including back-to-back aces, followed by a kill by Alinsug before another service winner from the freshman gave NU a 24-23 match point advantage.

Angge Poyos saved a point for the Golden Tigresses before Alinsug pushed the Lady Bulldogs on top. Poyos surrendered the game by overcooking her kill.

NU tried to salvage the third set after falling to a 17-23 hole, mounting a 5-0 run to close within one. Avril Bron scored off a kill block to bring UST to set point. Myrtle Escanlar saved a point but Xyza Gula stopped the Lady Bulldogs from forcing a deuce with a through a block kill.

Poyos had 18 points while Bron, Gula and Julia Balingit had 10 each for the Tigresses. 

In the first game, Shaina Nitura powered Adamson University to a swift, 25-19, 25-18, 25-10 whipping of Ateneo de Manila University.

The Season 87 Rookie of the Year and scoring leader poured 16 points for the Lady Falcons in a lopsided match that lasted an hour and 25 minutes.

Adamson was in full control of the first two sets and left no doubt in its mastery of its overmatched opponent with an 8-0 start in the third frame. The Lady Falcons then turned it into a 16-1 blowout that broke the Blue Eagles’ will.

“Our instruction was to continue, keep going,” Adamson coach JP Yude said after his team erected an insurmountable lead in the third.

“It’s not a safe lead until the game ends. So, stick to the system, stick with the instructions, and keep going.”

Frances Mordi scored 13 of her 14 points from kills for Adamson, who outgunned the Blue Eagles, 39-18, in attacks and tightened the defensive screw at the net with 12 kill blocks.

Rookie Abegail Segui had eight points, Princess Dote had six kill blocks for seven points and Lhouiz Tuddao added six for the Lady Falcons.

No Ateneo player reached double-digit scoring with Alex Montoro scoring five points.