How does Shaina Nitura take her time off throughout her sensational freshman year in the UAAP?
UAAP Season 87 has been nothing short of spectacular for Adamson’s Shaina Nitura, whose sensational rookie year has set a standard that will likely remain unmatched for years to come.
With a whopping 371 points to her name, Nitura set the all-time scoring record for the UAAP collegiate volleyball tournaments, surpassing the 312 points once set by Alyssa Valdez in the women’s division and the 344 markers recorded by former UST star Mark Alfafara in the men’s division.
Behind Nitura’s historic tear is an equally unprecedented total of six 30-point outings throughout the 14-game elimination rounds, headlined by a 38-point explosion last March 17 that became the new single-game scoring record in the women’s volleyball tournament.
However, for each page that she added to the history books, Nitura’s freshman year came with an overwhelming volume of white noise, whether it was from the ever-critical and highly passionate UAAP volleyball fanbase or even through the fallout of a midseason drama involving her family members.
Such a reality could prove to be overwhelming for a young talent like Nitura, but it was also here that she learned to drown out the noise by tuning into the beautiful sound of silence.
“I didn’t expect sa sarili ko na I have to be alone at times,” Nitura told The GAME in an exclusive interview. “Tinanong ko rin minsan, kasi ‘yung iba sa amin, like ‘yung iba naming teammates or ibang kakilala ko, gusto nila minsan mapag-isa sila, nagdi-DND [do not disturb] sila.
“So I tried ‘yun, and sobrang laking help pala noon, kasi na-analyze mo ‘yung sarili mo. Alam mo ‘yun, naninilay-nilay mo ‘yung mga bagay-bagay, so it’s really important and big help sa akin ‘yun this season…big part siya to help na maka-recover ‘yung mind ko from everything na nangyayari, and ‘yung chaos na nangyayari sa team or ‘yung sa labas.”
On top of dealing with white noise, Shaina Nitura was also the rookie-captain of an Adamson core primarily composed of freshman and sophomore players, which came with growing pains in the form of heartbreaking losses, or even in-game miscues that emphasized their youth.
But in becoming her own best friend, Nitura allowed herself to feel human again, one who can breathe freely as she escapes from what could be an overwhelming reality for a UAAP superstar.
“I tried lang na pumunta lang nga ano, kung saan pwede mag-kape. So alone lang, and parang ang sarap palang mag-kape ng mag-isa. Kumakain ka lang, nage-enjoy ka lang, so na-appreciate ko rin ‘yung mga bagay bagay,” Nitura reflected. “Hindi lang naman puro negative ‘yung naiisip ko, but you’re also appreciating things na nangyayari sayo.
Nitura continued, “Nakakatanggal ng tinik sa puso. So, parang nare-reset ka for another day. Another day for training, another day for the team, another game. So, very nakaka-reset siya.”
Perhaps it was through this way that Shaina Nitura was able to rewrite the history books, on top of going toe-to-toe with some of the UAAP’s best, including previous super rookies in Bella Belen, Angel Canino, and Angge Poyos.
And as she enters the offseason, Nitura vows to bring the lessons that she learned from a sensational rookie year, including those that she took away from facing off against the very stars that she used to watch.
“‘Yung pagiging palaban [nila Belen and company] tas alam mo ‘yun? ‘Yung kahit anong mangyari, ipu-push nila whether comeback man or hindi. Mananalo na sila, or hindi, consistent pa rin ‘yung puso nilang palaban, and ‘yung ginagawa nila, hindi rollercoaster na baba tas tataas. Talagang diretso lang pataas.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.