Adamson Lady Falcons rookie Shaina Nitura will be one of the biggest names to watch in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
The UAAP Women’s Volleyball Tournament is no stranger to homegrown rookie sensations, including the likes of NU’s Bella Belen, DLSU’s Angel Canino, and UST’s Angge Poyos in the post-pandemic era alone.
Come Season 87, Shaina Nitura will be joining that prestigious list when she debuts for the Adamson Lady Falcons in the collegiate ranks. Nitura is expected to lead the Lady Falcons’ rebuild, bringing a resume that already includes one juniors’ championship and a Most Valuable Player award.
But despite all the hype surrounding her name, the 20-year-old refuses to be bogged down by pressure in her collegiate volleyball debut.
“Instead of thinking na mape-pressure ako, may expectations ‘yung mga tao sakin, hindi ko na masyadong iniisip. Ang kailangan ko lang naman gawin lagi is laruin ‘yung tina-training ko, ‘yung pinapa-adjust samin ni [head coach JP Yude], ‘yung binigay sakin ni Lord na gift,” she said during the UAAP Season 87 collegiate volleyball press conference on Thursday.
“Hindi ko naman iniisip na kahit sino man or kahit ano man kasi ang kailangan ko higitan is ‘yung meron ako, kailangan ko higitan ‘yung nagawa ko nung high school, and iba lang kasi talaga sa college.”
Nitura, along with juniors’ teammate Fhey Sagaysay, will be joining an Adamson program that lost seniors like Lucille Almonte, Ishie Lalongisip, Karen Verdeflor, and Angge Alcantara to graduation following the Season 86 Women’s Volleyball Tournament.
These seniors, though, have left some advice for the 20-year-old, namely Season 86 captain Almonte according to Nitura.
“Sinabi ko lang sa kanya na hindi naman kasi bago ‘yung role na ‘yun kasi since high school siya naman din naging captain…Pero syempre iba na ‘yung labanan in college and sabi ko sa kanya ‘No pressure, ilaro mo lang kung ano ‘yung talent na meron ka, i-grab mo lang [‘yung opportunities]’. Tsaka kaya niya naman i-handle ‘yung team basta makinig lang sa coaches and sa teammates,” Almonte told The GAME following her Nxled Chameleons’ PVL game against the Choco Mucho Flying Titans.
Nitura is also expected to continue her partnership with Yude, who was the Baby Lady Falcons’ mentor during their Season 86 Girls’ Volleyball title. So while the Falcons are rebuilding, Nitura knows that there will be some sort of familiarity within their young core.
“Magkakasama na kami ni coach since noong pinakauna pa lang, Season 85 pa lang, so parang ‘yung usual na ginagawa namin i-akyat lang namin sa college. May adjustment, yes, pero ‘yung program, ‘yung gaano kami kakilala ni coach, gaano kami kakilala ni coach [nandoon na],” she said. “‘Yung relationship namin with players to players is hindi na kami naninibago sa isa’t isa, so feeling ko parang ‘yun ‘yung good thing and advantage namin na maiaakyat sa college.”
And as Shaina Nitura begins her UAAP seniors’ career with Adamson, she’s vowed to bring the dedication that led to a championship and individual awards with the Baby Lady Falcons.
“Alam ko naman na different ‘yung high school to college, pero siguro ‘yung hunger na meron kami, ako, is kailangan kong doblehin kung gusto ko talagang maakyat ‘yung ginagawa namin sa high school. College is very different, ibang level ‘to and lahat ng pinakamagagaling nandito so kailangan doble o triple ‘yung effort at work,” the gifted wing spiker said.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.