In just her rookie year, Shaina Nitura has rewritten the history books and ignited a wave of excitement in Adamson University’s campaign in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
With a relentless scoring streak, Nitura shattered records left and right, including the most 30-point games, the rookie scoring record, and the coveted single-game scoring record.
With her ever-electric performances, she has established herself as one of the most explosive talents in the league.
But behind the headlines and milestones, Nitura’s journey was far from a fairy tale.
Her record-breaking 38-point performance against University of the Philippines on March 22, while stunning, ended in heartbreak as the Lady Falcons fell in a grueling five-set match.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Just 11 days later, a similar fate unfolded.
Despite another monstrous 36-point outing, Adamson lost to the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in another five-set thriller.
For many, it seemed like a story of individual brilliance tainted by team misfortune, but Nitura’s fierce determination pushed her to rewrite that narrative.
Refusing to let her record-breaking performances go to waste, she continued to pour her heart into every game, and finally, her efforts led to victories.
In a stunning four-set victory over defending champion National University, Nitura posted a jaw-dropping 32 points.
She then followed with an even more explosive 37-point display against Far Eastern University.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
With those performances, she set a new single-season scoring record in the UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament — 314 points, surpassing the 312-point mark set by the legendary Alyssa Valdez in Season 77.
With two games still left in the preliminary round, Nitura’s place in history is firmly secured.
However, as much as Nitura’s individual brilliance was the talk of the town, the humble outside hitter insists that the real reason behind Adamson’s resurgence goes beyond her own scoring tear. For Nitura, it’s the team’s renewed sense of unity and determination that has fueled their success.
“Actually, ‘yon yung pinaka nagfu-fuel kasi parang ang sarap nilang kalaro, kakampi, at ang gaan. Alam ko kung ano yung gusto ko, gusto rin nila, kaya mas smooth yung takbo namin,” Nitura said with a grin after Adamson’s victory at the SMART Araneta Coliseum last Saturday.
“Sobrang laking tulong na mas ma-boost pa at magpupursigi pa sa araw-araw na training na meron ako kasi nakikita kong mas gusto rin nila.”
The change in Adamson’s mindset is especially impressive considering their faded hopes of making the Final Four.
With each passing game, their postseason aspirations seemed slimmer, and after UST’s sweep of UE earlier in the day, they were officially out of contention.
Yet, for Nitura, this didn’t dampen her resolve to keep fighting for her teammates.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Nakikita ko talaga yung puso nila at yung kapit nila na hindi nila tatapusin ito ng basta basta. If they can finish it ng maganda, ‘yon talaga. Rinemind ko rin kasi sila kagabi na yung season na ito, it will never be the same,” she shared, clearly moved by the bond she’s built with her teammates.
“Next season iba na kasi graduate na yung mga ates namin. Kailangan talaga i-nourish namin yung time na meron kami together. Good thing na meron na kaming history na babalikan namin kasama yung mga ates namin.”
Though Nitura’s individual achievements have been groundbreaking, she holds herself accountable for Adamson’s failure to reach the Final Four for the second year in a row.
Yet, she remains grateful for the trust and patience of her teammates, who she hopes to have more memories with in the coming years.
“Yung pasensya talaga at yung pagtitiwala at yung pagbibigay ng confidence sa kasama ko. Hindi siya more on sa akin na individual na growth, it’s about how I handle yung mga emotions ko sa team ko; kung paano ko mapapakita sa kanila kung paano ko sila gigisingin at kung paano ako makakatulong sa kanila. It’s more on the relationship ng team sa akin,” Nitura shared.
“Parang kailangan ko i-push yung sarili ko kasi nakikita ko na gusto nila. Hindi ako pwede mawala kasi pag nawala ako, madadamay ko sila. I really have to push myself para magising ako. Hindi ko talaga siya ine-expect, wala naman akong ginawa na iba. Yung mga teammates ko is mas na-feel ko na gusto nila, and mas gusto ko rin, so nagsabay. Ginusto talaga namin kaya nakakakuha kami ng panalo kasi mas gusto namin.”
#WATCH: Shaina Nitura reveals that it’s the drive to send Adamson’s graduating seniors off with a bang that’s fueling her incredible 30-point performances
@ernesttuazon /Tiebreaker Times#UAAPSeason87 pic.twitter.com/4EecNRbaOh
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) April 12, 2025
