After a stellar high school career with Adamson, it’s no surprise that all eyes are on Shaina Nitura as she looks to replicate her high school success for a rebuilding Lady Falcons squad.
Nitura cemented her legacy with the Baby Falcons, earning back-to-back 1st Best Outside Spiker awards, a Season 85 silver medal, and leading Adamson to a flawless 14-0 championship run in Season 86 — where she was named MVP and Finals MVP.
Now, she is ready to spread her wings in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament, aiming to lift Adamson from a turbulent Season 86 campaign.
To successfully transition from the juniors to an up-and-down Lady Falcons program, Nitura knows she must elevate her hunger, effort, and determination from the start.
“Mahirap talaga, alam ko naman different yung high school to college pero yung hunger na meron ako is kailangan ko doblehin kung gusto ko talaga maiakyat yung nagawa ko sa high school to college,” the 5-foot-9 outside hitter told reporters during the Season 87 Collegiate Volleyball Press Conference last Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Sabi nga natin, collegiate is very different, ibang level ito. Lahat ng pinakamagaling nandito, kailangan doble or triple pa talaga yung effort,” she added.
Nitura is also poised to join the ranks of UAAP rookie sensations like Rookie-MVP duo Bella Belen and Angel Canino, along with UST’s Angge Poyos.
While being compared to these standout players is an honor, her focus is on carving out her own path — especially as a rare rookie-team captain tasked with leading Adamson back to the Final Four for the first time since Season 85.
“May pressure naman talaga, pero if you think na negative ‘yon, talagang mag-o-outcome siyang negative. Instead of thinking na mapre-pressure ako at may expectations yung mga tao sa akin, hindi ko na siya masyado iniisip,” the Cainta, Rizal native expressed.
“Kasi sabi ko nga kanina, ang kailangan ko lang gawin is laruin yung tine-training ko at yung pinapa-adjust sa’min ni coach at yung binigay sa akin ni Lord na gift,” she went on.
“Hindi ko naman iniisip na may kailangan ako higitan kasi — ang kailangan ko higitan yung nagawa ko noong high school.”
Rookies rarely take on the captaincy role in the UAAP, but Adamson head coach JP Yude believes Nitura will not only make an immediate impact with her talent but also with her leadership.
Her maturity and presence are much-needed for a Lady Falcons team that lost several key players from their Season 86 roster, including Lucille Almonte, Ishie Lalongisip, Angge Alcantara, Lorene Toring, Karen Verdeflor, AA Adolfo, Sharya Ancheta, and Nikka Yandoc.
“Hindi siya madali pero at the same time, may tiwala naman ako kay Shaina. I know she can lead the team [with] the leadership na meron siya. At first, hindi talaga madali pero unti-unti yung development and yung encouragement na lagi lang niyang dalhin yung team based on the leadership na meron siya,” Yude explained.
“Yung adjustment mabilis naman kasi may mga pumalit din na talents ng mga bata, which is kaya nila lumaban sa UAAP [at] kaya naman palitan yung mga nawala. It’s a process pa rin na unti-unting nade-develop pa yung mga batang ito kasi ilang taon pa sila magsasama ‘eh. It’s a developmental game pero kaya naman lumaban sa UAAP.”
