Adamson’s Nitura sets new UAAP record with 38-point explosion
Adamson rookie sensation Shaina Nitura continued to make history in UAAP women’s volleyball, scoring a career-high 38 points against University of the Philippines (UP) on Sunday, March 16, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Her performance surpassed the previous UAAP record of 35 points set by Ateneo de Manila University’s Alyssa Valdez (Season 75, 2013) and University of Santo Tomas’s Sisi Rondina (Season 81, 2019).
However, despite her incredible effort, Adamson fell short as UP secured a hard-fought five-set victory, 25-15, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, handing the Lady Falcons their fourth straight loss and dropping them to a 2-5 record.
The defeat was a tough pill to swallow for Adamson, as neither head coach JP Yude nor the players spoke to the media after spending an hour in the locker room post-match.
Since her record-breaking 33-point UAAP debut against Ateneo, Nitura has been the team’s lone bright spot, but consistent support from her teammates remains lacking.
Her scoring performances have fluctuated, with totals of 16, 18, 28, 24, and a season-low 13 before her 38-point explosion.
As Adamson heads into the second round, Nitura has proven she can compete with the league’s best. However, the pressure now shifts to the coaching staff and supporting cast to step up and provide much-needed help for their rising star.
