After watching her older sister complete a storybook finish to her collegiate career, Adamson University outside hitter Shaina Nitura is now driven by a belief that championship DNA runs deep in their family.
Nitura delivered a clinical performance on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, powering Adamson to a straight-sets sweep of the University of Santo Tomas with a 19-point explosion.
But beyond the numbers, the win carried deeper meaning for the Alas Pilipinas pool member, who drew inspiration from her older sister, Judiel, just a day after the latter led Colegio de San Juan de Letran to its first NCAA title in nearly three decades while also claiming Finals MVP honors.
Rather than feeling overshadowed by her sister’s historic achievement, Shaina is using it as fuel for her own UAAP Season 88 campaign. For her, the mission remains clear: channel that inspiration into Adamson’s push for a Final Four berth in the Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
“Very happy ako kasi, ‘yun nga, graduating si Ate and ‘yun yung pinaka-goal niya — bago siya makaalis, mag-champion siya,” said the Lady Falcons captain. “Very proud kami, family niya, na na-achieve niya yung mga goals niya in life. Siyempre, nakaka-inspire kasi naglaro siya nang maayos and nanalo siya.
“Siya rin ang naging Finals MVP, so very nakaka-inspire siya na maglaro ako more, para makita ng family namin na it runs through the blood.”
The Nituras’ volleyball journey began from the sidelines, watching their eldest sister, Toni, rise through the youth ranks.
Toni eventually went on to represent National University and, most recently, competed with MPVA club Marikina.
When Judiel and Shaina followed in her footsteps, neither they nor their family could have predicted how far the sport would take them.
From those early days of inspiration, both sisters have grown into collegiate standouts, carving out their own identities on the court.
“Sa Ate ko siya nagsimula — Ate Toni,” explained the Season 87 Rookie of the Year. “Iba rin talaga yung impact niya sa akin kasi nag-re-regionals siya noon, nagpa-Palaro siya noon. Parang na-inspire kaming dalawa na, why not try mag-volleyball kasi yung Ate namin nagta-try.
“So, ‘yun nga, nagustuhan namin and dire-diretso na, hanggang ngayon. May plan pala si Lord bakit kami parehas nagvo-volleyball and may purpose Siya.”
Adamson’s win over UST allowed the Lady Falcons to move into a share of third place with a 7-5 record, tightening their grip on a Final Four race that has eluded them since Season 85.
Now, after witnessing her sister cap her collegiate career in triumph, Nitura feels even more determined to help Adamson reach its own breakthrough. While a semifinal berth remains the immediate goal, she is hopeful the Lady Falcons can rise beyond it.
“Siyempre nakaka-inspire, pero siyempre, from the very start, hindi naman natin ine-expect na… Siyempre, they’re expecting na mag-champion sila, pero kung hindi, magpu-push pa rin kami,” said the 5-foot-9 Rizal native.
“Pinaka-goal pa rin is pumasok kami sa Final Four at kung ano yung kaya namin, ia-add namin.”
