UAAP: Keep on going, Alyssa Valdez tells Shaina Nitura
Adamson Lady Falcons rookie Shaina Nitura during a UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament game. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Alyssa Valdez praised Adamson rookie Shaina Nitura for surpassing her single-game scoring record in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball, encouraging her to learn from setbacks and use them to grow as an athlete.
Nitura set the mark for the most points scored in a UAAP women’s volleyball game with 38, only for the Lady Falcons to end the first round with a fourth straight loss with the 15-25, 25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 10-15 setback to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ: UAAP: Take it from Alyssa and Sisi, Nitura could be best UAAP has seen in a while
The Adamson High School product, who unleashed 35 kills with three aces to boot, eclipsed the previous record held by Valdez for Ateneo in Season 75 and University of Santo Tomas standout Sisi Rondina in Season 81.
“It’s so amazing to see this young girl really excelling and performing so well in the UAAP. I hope, after breaking all those records, she continues to enjoy the sport even more,” said Valdez in Filipino. “That’s just the beginning, I’m sure there are more records to break, but I hope she stays hungry to learn more about volleyball and remains passionate about it.”
All those scoring records ended up in losses, but the former three-time UAAP MVP and two-time champion urged Nitura to keep going.
READ: UAAP: Rookie Shaina Nitura sets scoring record in Adamson loss
“That’s something we can all learn from. From my own experience, I’ve learned a lot. As athletes, we always want to win, but sports really teach us tough lessons,” said Valdez, who also holds the third-best scoring output with 34 points in Season 78 Finals Game 2 in 2016 tied by National Univeristy star Alyssa Solomon in Season 85 Finals Game 2 two years ago.
“I hope she bounces back from this loss, becomes more resilient, and continues to work hard. I also hope that as a team, they’ll be more united and help each other out. The Adamson Lady Falcons have so much potential, and I believe in their growth just like for Ateneo.”
Former UAAP MVP and now Creamline Cool Smashers’ star Alyssa Valdez. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net
The former UAAP girls champion and MVP was understandably frustrated after the game as the Lady Falcons dropped to 2-5.
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.
Nitura also topped all scorers in the first round with 170 points off 152 kills, 10 blocks, and eight aces.
