The Adamson Lady Falcons score their biggest victory for UAAP Season 87 after upsetting the defending champions NU Lady Bulldogs.
Ahead of their weekend matchup against the NU Lady Bulldogs, two of the Adamson Lady Falcons’ losses for UAAP Season 87 had come in heartbreaking fashion.
The first was last March 17, where Shaina Nitura’s 38-point record went for naught after the UP Lady Maroons overcame a 2-1 set deficit to close out their first round campaign. Then on April 3, the Lady Falcons blew a similar 2-1 set advantage, failing to close out a UST Golden Tigresses squad led by Reg Jurado in the endgame.
But as painful as these losses were, it only made the Falcons hungrier, and served as the motivation in their 25-23, 15-25, 28-26, 25-22 upset against the defending champs on Sunday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Sobrang laking tulong din nung past games namin kasi puro nga kami talo, and pinapatibay talaga kami talaga kami, and mas nagugutom kami na manalo. Lagi kami nachachallenge na ‘ito lang ba kami?’ or hahayaan ba namin na mag-continue ito?” Nitura said as Adamson took advantage of Alyssa Solomon’s absence for NU.
“Tas ayun nga, tiwala lang sa will ni God, and tiwala lang kung paano Niya kami mino-mold sa future na ibibgay niya samin.”
Nitura showed the way once more in Sunday’s game, finishing with a game-high 32 markers to be the first UAAP Women’s Volleyball Player to record four 30-point games in a single season.
The super rookie, though downplayed another record-breaking night, and would rather focus on racking up wins for her Lady Falcons.
“‘Di ko muna talaga siya pinapansin kasi nga po, good na rin ‘yung mga support system ko kila coach, na ‘di ko po masyado nilaalgay ‘yun sa utak ko at sa heart ko. Hindi naman ‘yun ‘yung goal [to break scoring records], ito po ‘yung goal: manalo. So either way, hindi man ako makapuntos, basta manalo, so thank you Lord nanalo,” reflected Nitura, who added 10 excellent digs and six excellent receptions to her scoring tear.
Adamson now improves to a 4-7 record, which keeps them in Final Four contention late into Season 87. Up next for them will be the FEU Lady Tamaraws on April 12, the DLSU Lady Spikers on April 23, and the UP Lady Maroons on April 27.
Only this time around, Shaina Nitura and the Falcons will enter with newfound confidence after beating the defending champs with a rookie-laden core.
“Nung mga past games talaga namin, medyo pababa na talaga ‘yung kumpyansa namin, na medyo nalu-loose hope na kami na baka ‘di po talaga para samin ‘yung season. Pero wala, sabi ni Lord, tiwala lang palagi at magpursigi lang kasi may paglalagyan lahat ng hirap namin,” said the Falcons’ rookie-captain.
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.