In her first year with the Adamson University Lady Falcons, rookie team captain Shaina Nitura has broken several records, but she remains hungry to deliver the school’s first championship in women’s volleyball.

In her debut as a Lady Falcon, Nitura scored 33 points against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in a five-set game, setting a new rookie single-game scoring record.

Against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the first round, Nitura set a new UAAP women’s volleyball scoring record when she scored 38 points, surpassing the 35-point records previously held by UAAP legends Alyssa Valden of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and Sisi Rondina of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses.

Before the second round of elimination ended, Nitura broke the single-season scoring record in UAAP women’s volleyball after scoring 37 points in their win against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws. She erased the record of 312 points that Valdez had in Season 77.

In her penultimate game against the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, Nitura broke the UAAP record in all divisions when she recorded 349 points, surpassing the record of 344 points set by Mark Alfafara of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers in Season 76.

At the end of the eliminations, Nitura scored 371 points, 27 more than Alfafara’s record. As she broke record after record, she created a new UAAP record as the player who recorded the most 30-point games in a single season.

As her rookie season came to an end, Nitura was humble enough to say that she did not know if she could replicate her performance again in the next season.

She said, “Hindi ko alam kasi depende ‘yan kung paano ko pa paghihirapan at paano ko pupursigihin ‘yung mga next seasons kasi I cannot say, God’s will na lang din talaga. Siya lang may alam. Pursigi lang, ingat lang din, iwas injury, tapos disiplina sa sarili.”

“Lahat [kailangan i-improve], pati sa attitude towards others, sa team, and sa coaches.”

Here’s every record Shaina Nitura broke in her rookie season.

33

In her first game in the seniors division, Nitura broke records when she scored 33 points in 28 attacks, four blocks, and an ace in Adamson’s 21-25, 20-25, 25-12, 25-15, 15-12 victory against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles on February 16.

With her 33-point performance, Nitura became the holder for the highest-scoring debut game of a rookie, surpassing the 31 points set by Angge Poyos of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in Season 86.

Back then, Nitura also matched the highest-scoring output by a Lady Falcon since Angela Benting scored 33 points in 2009.

“Hindi po ako naglu-look forward for anything na ganoon po. Bonus na lang po ‘yun, pero siyempre, thankful po, praise the Lord,” she said back then. “We want more for the team, not individually but for the team. Nakatikim kami ng isang panalo and we’re gonna be hungry for more.”

38

In just seven games, Nitura broke another record when she scored 38 points in 35 attacks and three aces in their heartbreaking 15-25, 25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 10-15 loss against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the first round.

The previous records of 35 points in a single game were held by Sisi Rondina of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses and Alyssa Valdez of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.

Rondina exploded for 35 points in the Golden Tigresses’ 19-25, 22-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-11 reverse sweep defeat to the Blue Eagles in Season 81. Valdez’s 35-point performance also suffered a similar fate when they were defeated by the Adamson University Lady Falcons in Season 75, 21-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16, 10-15.

Rondina and Valdez both extend their appreciation to Nitura and acknowledge the feat that she did. However, Nitura reiterated that she was not after individual records but a championship.

She said back then, “Siyempre grateful po kasi ‘yung mga veterans, like superstars ng Philippine volleyball, na-acknowledge po ‘yung ginagawa ko. Very grateful po ako, pero babagsak pa rin po tayo sa we want to win. We want to achieve wins instead of records po.”

“Nung nagsimula itong UAAP, our goal was – my goal was – to win. Not anything else. Not achieving individual records or anything, but I’m still grateful na nakukuha ko po ‘yun at binibigay ni Lord.”

314

With two games left in the eliminations, Nitura already broke the record of most points scored in a single season in UAAP women’s volleyball when she exploded for 37 points in 31 attacks, five blocks, and an ace in Adamson’s 14-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-22 victory against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws.

Nitura surpassed the previous record of 312 points set by Alyssa Valdez of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in Season 77, as she already scored 314 points after that game.

Despite shattering another record, Nitura remained committed to their goal as a team, despite being eliminated from the final four.

She said back then, “If I would reflect sa napagdaanan ng team, i’m very happy at very thankful kasi sobrang laking tulong nito for our upcoming seasons. Grateful ako na kahit hindi kami makakapasok ng Final Four, pero ‘yung learnings na makukuha namin, sobrang laking foundation nito for us.”

349

Although the Adamson University Lady Falcons lost against the De La Salle University Lady Spikers, 19-25, 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 4-15, Nitura’s 35-point eruption in that match broke the UAAP record for most points scored in a single season in all divisions.

Nitura surpassed the previous record of 344 points set by Mark Alfafara of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Spikers in Season 76, as she already scored 349 points after that game.

After 14 games, Nitura scored 371 points, 27 points more than the record Alfafara held for a decade.

Six

In the 14 games Adamson University Lady Falcons played in UAAP Season 87, Nitura scored at least 30 points in six games, a record she created as the most 30-point performance in a single season.

In their opening match win against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, Nitura scored 33 points in 28 attacks, four blocks, and an ace.

In their 15-25, 25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 10-15 loss against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, Nitura delivered her best game of the season with 38 points in 35 attacks and three blocks.

Nitura scored 32 points in 30 attacks and two blocks in their four-set upset of the defending champions, National University Lady Bulldogs, in the second round.

The 20-year-old rookie exploded for 37 points in 31 attacks, five blocks, and an ace in their surprise 14-25, 29-27, 25-22, 25-22 victory against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in the second round.

In their five-set 18-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-27, 8-15 loss against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in the second round, Nitura erupted for 36 points in 32 attacks, three blocks, and an ace.

Nitura’s last 30-point performance happened in Adamson’s 19-25, 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 4-15 defeat at the hands of the De La Salle University Lady Spikers. She had 35 points in 33 attacks, a block, and an ace.