Adamson rookie Shaina Nitura, right, reacts during a game against UP in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament. Nitura set a UAAP women’s volleyball record by scoring 38 points in the loss.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Rookie Shaina Nitura’s historic game ended in frustration after Adamson suffered a five-set meltdown at the hands of University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament on Sunday.
Nitura set the mark for the most points scored in a UAAP women’s volleyball game with 38 points, but only for the Lady Falcons to end the first round with a fourth straight loss following the 15-25, 25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 10-15 setback.
Nitura, who unleashed 35 kills with three aces to boot, eclipsed the previous record held by Ateneo ace Alyssa Valdez in Season 75 in 2013 and University of Santo Tomas standout Sisi Rondina in Season 81 in 2019.
READ: UAAP: UP survives Shaina Nitura’s record performance, Adamson
The Adamson High School product was understandably frustrated after the game as the Lady Falcons dropped to 2-5. Nitura spent hours in the dugout before leaving the venue.
The 20-year-old Nitura, who also had 15 excellent receptions, even declined to entertain questions from the media about her historic night, saying her coach JP Yude disallowed her from answering. Yude also declined for an interview.
The third-best scoring output was the 34-point explosions of Valdez in Season 78 Finals Game 2 in 2016 and National Univeristy star Alyssa Solomon in Season 85 Finals Game 2 two years ago.
Nitura, from the moment she made her women’s volleyball debut, became Adamson’s scoring record holder, tying Angela Benting’s 33-point output when they beat Ateneo in five sets last month to open their season.
READ: UAAP: Rookie Shaina Nitura says losses will make Adamson better
UP overcame the best scoring performance in league history by leaning on a balanced attack with Niña Ytang and Irah Jaboneta leading four double-digit scorers with 20 and 19 points, respectively.
Kianne Olango and Joan Monares chipped in 15 points each to help spoil Nitura’s historic night.
“It’s really our goal to win, like I’ve said in past interviews, it’s always about teamwork. We wouldn’t win if we were just on our own; we have to always help each other. It feels great that we won because all the hard work we put in during training paid off, and of course, with the help of our coaches, teammates, and management to make this win possible,” said Monares in Filipino.