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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider 'Swerte ng NU': De Jesus sees Cantada's rookie season similar to Belen, Canino, Nitura

'Swerte ng NU': De Jesus sees Cantada's rookie season similar to Belen, Canino, Nitura

Published Mar 16, 2026 02:18 pm

At A Glance

  • That's why de Jesus knows high potential when he sees it, just like what he has observed in rookie standout Sam Cantada, who has lived up to expectations by leading the offense of National University in the UAAP Season 88 women's volleyball tournament.
NU's Sam Cantada (UAAP Media)
NU's Sam Cantada (UAAP Media)
In his nearly three-decade tenure as head coach of the De La Salle University, Ramil de Jesus has seen student-athletes come and go, with many of his former wards evolving from collegiate standouts into stars in the professional ranks.
That’s why de Jesus knows high potential when he sees it, just like what he has observed in rookie standout Sam Cantada, who has lived up to expectations by leading the offense of National University in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament.
“Siguro [kahit] bata pa, very talented, bukod do’n all around player, pwedeng opposite, pwedeng outside hitter, siguro matatawag [natin siyang] super rookie,” said de Jesus after the Lady Spikers’ 25-21, 25-19, 19-25, 25-17 win over the Lady Bulldogs at Mall of Asia Arena Sunday, March 15.
De Jesus even compared Sam Cantada’s level of play to NU’s Bella Belen and La Salle’s Angel Canino, the only two players in UAAP history who won Rookie-MVP award in one season, and Shai Nitura of Adamson, who bagged last year’s Rookie of the Year plum.
“Mga ka-level ni Angel no’ng rookie year nya, nila Nitura, si Belen, mga ganun,” de Jesus continued as Cantada topped NU's scoring column anew against La Salle with 13 points.
“Swerte ang NU napunta sa kanila, at ‘di samin napunta,” added de Jesus who flashed a rare burst of laughter during the post-game press conference.
Cantada, an erstwhile Adamson Lady Baby Falcon in the junior ranks with Nitura, was a force to be reckoned with after a 21-point explosion in her maiden seniors game against host University of Santo Tomas last month.
From there, the Dasmariñas, Cavite native became a key arsenal for the three-peat seeking Lady Bulldogs (5-2) who now sit behind the Lady Spikers (6-0) in the standings.
Full circle moment for de Jesus, Diego
For de Jesus, it was a full-circle moment, after he went for a first head-to-head coaching clash against his former libero from La Salle’s Manilla Santos era, now also a chief tactician in Regine Diego of NU.
“Natutuwa ako sa kanya kasi, sya lang ‘yong babae na nag-coach [ngayon] dito sa UAAP… siguro sa ngayon nakakatuwa, galing sakin, tas ngayon nag-coach na sa champion team,” said de Jesus.
“Siguro, isang bagay ‘yong makita ko sa kanya ‘yong mga bagay na natutunan nya no’ng player pa sya, marami din siyang ideya, and natutuwa ako dahil very competitive ‘yong team,” he added. “Hopefully, mas makilala nya pa ‘yong team, kasi bago lang sya, and mapagalaw nya pa.”
Diego played under de Jesus in the mid 2000s where she powered the squad’s defensive end which led to her title win in 2009 for the Taft-based squad.

Related Tags

Ramil de Jesus UAAP Season 88 NU Lady Bulldogs Sam Cantada La Salle Lady Spikers
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