By MARK REY MONTEJO
She may be breaking records in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament, but Adamson rookie Shai Nitura said winning their last matches and learning from their defeats are more important.
The 5-foot-9 outside spiker exploded with 37 points on 31 kills, five blocks and one ace for her fifth 30-point production — the most by any female player or freshman in league history.
She posted a single-season score of 314 points, shattering the record of former Ateneo superstar Alyssa Valdez’ 312 points in UAAP Season 77 in 2015.
“Sobrang bonus niya. Hindi ko alam ang nararamdaman ko pero ang pinakamasaya ako is nananalo po yung team,” said Nitura.
Though already out of semifinal contention, Adamson still showed grit as it edged Far Eastern University, 14-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-22, over the weekend for its first back-to-back wins this year.
That helped Nitura win her second straight Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Players of the Week honors presented by the Philippine Sports Commission for the period of April 9 to 13.
Nitura nosed out UP’s Kassy Doering and Joan Monares, NU’s Bella Belen, and UST’s Kyla Cordora for the weekly honor decided by print and online journalists covering the beat.
They still have two matches left against powerhouse De La Salle and Final Four hopeful University of the Philippines, and Nitura is determined to help the Lady Falcons close out their campaign this season on a high note.
She said she and her teammates learned a lot this season.
“I’m grateful kasi sobrang laking tulong nito for coming seasons, and grateful ako kahit na hindi kami na nakapasok sa Final Four pero yung learning na nakukuha namin sobrang laki,” said Nitura.
“Sobrang laking foundation nito for us, ‘di pa tapos, may dalawang game pa kami… basta kami magtiwala lang kami sa team,” she added.
Adamson coach JP Yude, meanwhile, said he keeps reminding Nitura to keep her feet on the ground by being humble all the time.
“I know ibinigay sa kanya, yung ganyang talent na ibinigay ng Panginoon… kumbaga sa maraming tao may isang tao na separated… kaya [we’re] very blessed,” said Yude.
“Pero result nando’n lang… basta continue lang sya maging humble lang all the time… ano mang ma-break na record nya, maging humble and to continue na mag-lead sa mga kasama niya,” she added.
