Adamson University Lady Soaring Falcons rookie captain Shaina Nitura made history when she scored 38 points in their heartbreaking 15-25, 25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 10-15 loss against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on March 16.

Nitura broke the record previously held by legends Alyssa Valdez and Sisi Rondina as the most scored by a player in a match in UAAP women’s volleyball. Despite this feat, Nitura reminded everyone that her goal was not to break individual records but to win their games.

“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,” Nitura was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times.

“Since then naman 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 ‘yung at binibigay po ni Lord. It’s a bonus, but balik pa rin po tayo sa goal na we want to win. We want to win games. Not just sets, not just records — pero win para makatulong kami sa pag-angat sa Final Four.”

The Lady Falcons currently sit just outside the final four with a 3-5 win-loss record. As they made their final push toward their goal, Nitura only wanted one thing – for the team to find their rhythm.

“It’s a stepping stone para mas umangat pa ‘yung laro namin. It’s not the best game we have or hindi pa ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-best namin this season. In the past round, we’re still looking for that version of us na kami talaga ‘yung naglalaro. Kinukuha pa namin ‘yung rhythm namin, ‘yung sabay-sabay kaming lahat nasa taas,” she ended.

Here are other stories you’ve probably missed on the first weekend of the second round of eliminations:

Bella Belen’s possible third MVP

At the end of the first round of eliminations, two-time MVP Bella Belen once again led in the MVP race with 159.6 statistical points after being the seventh best scorer, seventh best spiker, best server, sixth best digger, and fifth best receiver.

Despite this news, Belen was not looking for any player to improve as she just focused on herself, especially in her swan song year.

“Ako kasi, gusto ko lang lagi itinataas ‘yung level ng paglalaro ko kasi ‘yun nga, marami pong mga bata na pumapasok sa UAAP na magaling, so ako kailangan itaas ko pa ‘yung level ng laro,” Belen was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times.

“‘Yung awards na ‘yan, bonus lang sa players, so kailangan lang namin magsumikap. Hindi naman po ‘yun ‘yung goal namin this season.”

Aside from leading the MVP race, Belen also talked about the “swagfest” that happened in some of the games in the tournament.

“Ako kasi personally, ano kasi ako maglaro, e, parang bakla, bakla, mala-Josh, Josh Ybañez,” Belen said. “Ako kasi, ‘pag nilabas ko ‘yung ako maglaro, dun ko nakikita na para nagaganahan ‘yung team kasi sa training ganito ako, e. Bale parang nag-aantsahan kami. So, parang normal lang naman sa amin kasi parang, dun namin na-e-express ‘yung paano namin ma-enjoy ‘yung laro.”

Like the MVP race, Belen doesn’t think about the swag her opponents do as she enters the court with one goal – winning the game.

“Ako kasi, feeling ko ‘pag iniisip ko na kailangan ko bumawi ng swag, mawawala ako sa laro. Kasi ano pinunta mo dito? Mag-swag ka lang? Hindi para maglaro? Ako naman wala, a, okay, nag-swag sila sa’min. Cute,” she reiterated.

“Okay lang kasi part naman ‘yun ng game. Wala naman mali doon kasi ganon sila mag-celebrate. So kami, kung paano kami mag-celebrate, gawin lang din namin. Hindi naman nasa utak namin na every game kailangan mag-swag, ganyan, hindi. Kailangan lang namin ilabas kung paano kami maglaro.”

Tina Salak finally sees the maturity of FEU Lady Tamaraws.

After a roller-coaster first-round of eliminations, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws opened their first game in the second-round of elimination with a win against the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, 25-22, 26-24, 17-25, 26-24, on Sunday, March 23.

In that hard-fought game, Lady Tamaraws head coach Tina Salak can finally say she already saw the maturity of the team she’s been handling for the last three years. Season 85 as their head coach before coming as a consultant in the following season. This Season, 87, she returned to the top coaching spot.

“Ngayon ko nakita na behind kami, ngayon ko nakita ‘yung team na nag-mature. Behind kami ng six [points], hindi biro ‘yon na habulin. But ‘yung maturity nila sa laro, ‘yung maturity nila on how they want to play the game, ‘yun ‘yung thought ko ngayon na doon sila nag-improve,” Salak was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times.

“Na-develop nila ‘yun from the previous games or sa training na na-i-incorporate namin ‘yun na behind kami. But ‘yung happy ako na ganoon sila ka-resilient, hindi tulad before. Marami pa pala sila pwede magawa at marami pa sila pwede mabigay.

“Very exciting for me itong second round na mas makita ko pa sa kanila ‘yung attitude na ganito.”

Lyann de Guzman defends physical trainer on Ateneo’s injuries

Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles team captain Lyann de Guzman defended the team’s physical trainers as they needed almost three hours to defeat the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 15-25, 25-23, 27-25, 30-32, 16-14, on Saturday, March 22.

After the game, De Guzman gave credit to their physical trainers for their long endurance, especially as they made their final push to the final four.

“Siyempre kami, sobrang thankful kami kay Coach Miggy [Samonte], and kay PT Khen [Masaquel] kasi siyempre pag five sets, mostly physical, mental, and nakita naman namin throughout this season na parang naka-tatlong five sets kami. Pero ‘yung mental and physical conditioning namin sobrang maintain lang, as in hindi bumababa,” De Guzman was quoted as saying by Tiebreaker Times.

“Siyempre kami, sobrang thankful kami kay Coach Miggy and kala PT Khen (Masaquel) kasi siyempre pag five sets, mostly physical, mental, and nakita naman namin throughout this season na parang naka-tatlong five sets kami. Pero yung mental and physical conditioning namin sobrang maintain lang, as in hindi bumababa,” said De Guzman.

The Blue Eagles are currently missing the services of three players – JLo Delos Santos, Sobe Buena, and Geezel Tsunashina – due to season-ending injuries. However, De Guzman reiterated that the physical trainers are not to blame for these unfortunate incidents.

“Sa nangyaring injuries, hindi ‘yun dahil sa pagod kami, sa dami naming ginagawa, hindi ‘yun dahil sa weights namin. Sabi nga namin, sobrang ganda ng program namin, as in lahat kami gusto ‘yung program namin, like sobrang nakakatulong siya sa amin,” De Guzman explained.

“‘Yung nangyari lang talaga, accident lang talaga siya. So hopefully, everyone makita rin ‘yung ibang side kasi mahirap. Siyempre, alam namin ‘yung nangyari sa amin, and ‘yun nga, accident lang talaga, hindi siya dahil sa ginagawa namin.”

UST’s Maribeth Hilongo gets playing time with UST

In Season 86, Maribeth Hilongo suited up as a backup libero for team captain Detdet Pepito. Now, she is playing as an open hitter, and for the first time this season, she started in a game opposite Angeline Poyos.

Hilongo was supposed to miss the UAAP season as she was relegated to Team B. However, unfortunate things happened for the Golden Tigresses when open spikers Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gulat both suffered injuries that made them miss the lineup.

“‘Yung pressure, meron pero onti na lang. Talagang ni-ready ko sarili ko para matulungan ‘yung team namin,” Hilongo said after delivering career-high 17 points, 11 digs, and nine excellent receptions in their four-set loss against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.

Hilongo added, “Thank you rin ako sa mga teammates ko lalo na sa loob kasi grabe din talaga ‘yung pressure nung una, tapos grabe din nila ako i-angat talaga. Thank you din sa coaches na talagang naniniwala sa akin na kaya ko ‘to, kaya kong galingan.”