In just her sophomore year, Shaina Nitura wasted no time making history, officially becoming Adamson University’s first-ever MVP in UAAP Collegiate Women’s Volleyball.
The 21-year-old outside spiker clinched her first Most Valuable Player award in the Women’s Division, headlining the top individual awardees for UAAP Season 88.
Nitura, who also won MVP and Finals MVP honors in the girls’ division in Season 86, was formally awarded prior to Game 2 of the UAAP Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Finals between unbeaten De La Salle University and two-time defending champion National University on Saturday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
After becoming the first Lady Falcon in the 2000s to win Rookie of the Year in Season 87, Nitura raised her game even further in Season 88. She dominated multiple skill departments to top the MVP race with 98.511 statistical points (SP), while also steering Adamson to its first UAAP Women’s Volleyball Final Four appearance since Season 85.
The pride of Cainta, Rizal, pulled away for the MVP plum by 16 points over runner-up and teammate Frances Mordi (82.766 SP), powered by her all-around brilliance on both offense and defense. She tallied 284 points on 248 attacks, 24 blocks, and 12 aces, while ranking third in spiking efficiency at 38.15% and seventh in service aces with an average of 0.26 per set.
On the defensive end, Nitura — who still holds the UAAP volleyball scoring record across all divisions with 371 points in Season 87 — finished fourth in receptions with a 44.48% efficiency and eighth in digs with 2.11 excellent digs per set.
She was also honored as the Hyundai Exceptional Player and the Sunsilk Player of the Season.
“Again, grateful na binigay ni God ito sa akin and again, I am gonna be happy and grateful. Pero hindi naman doon titigil yung career ko, yung career namin, and yung pagpu-push namin to get into the Finals. Nandoon pa rin talaga yung focus namin,” she said.
“Actually, this only means na capable kami makapasok ng Finals kasi meron kaming Fhei, at meron kaming other players na pwede mag-push through it sa upcoming seasons na meron kami with the team.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Nitura also earned her first Best Outside Spiker citation with 303 ranking points (RP), joining De La Salle University’s Angel Canino (272 RP), who secured the award for the third time in her UAAP career. Canino posted a 39.06% spiking efficiency (second-best) and ranked third in receptions with a 45.89% success rate.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Lady Spikers captain Shevana Laput claimed her second straight Best Opposite Spiker award after finishing with 188 RP, highlighted by a 36.55% spiking efficiency (sixth in the league) and 0.65 blocks per set (fifth overall).
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
La Salle’s Amie Provido (206 RP) and University of the Philippines’ Niña Ytang (181 RP) both retained their Best Middle Blocker titles for the second consecutive season.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Provido led the league in blocking with 43 total blocks and a 0.83 average per set. Meanwhile, Ytang secured a record fourth straight citation after finishing third with 35 blocks (0.67 per set) and emerging as the highest-scoring middle blocker with 172 points from 126 attacks, 35 blocks, and 11 aces.
Adamson’s Fhei Sagaysay was named Best Setter, while National University’s Shaira Jardio was awarded Best Libero to complete the major individual honors.
Sagaysay, who also received the OPPO Moment Maker Award, finished with 247 RP behind a second-best 4.94 excellent sets per set and a league-best 22 aces on a 0.47 average per set.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On defense, Jardio stood out in a loaded field of specialists, finishing with 238 RP after leading the league in both digs (3.96 per set) and reception efficiency (58.54%).
Another Lady Bulldog was also recognized, as Sam Cantada was named Rookie of the Year and Cetaphil Rookie of the Season after finishing sixth in statistical points with 66.786. She placed second in aces (0.41 per set), seventh in spiking (35.36% success rate), and seventh in receptions (37.9% efficiency).
The University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses also received their bronze medals during the ceremony.
