Sensational: Shaina Nitura’s record-breaking UAAP Season 87 by the numbers

Shaina Nitura won the hearts of fans for her impressive individual performances, propelling the Adamson Lady Falcons to a respectable fifth-place finish in UAAP Season 87 despite playing in just her first year in the seniors team.

Though missing out on their ultimate goal of the Final Four, Nitura and the Lady Falcons were able to catch some big fish along the way, with big wins over teams in the semifinals like the NU Lady Bulldogs and the FEU Lady Tamaraws.

Since making her rookie debut, the high-flying wing spiker has caught the attention of many for her jaw-dropping scoring performances, etching her name into the history books of the UAAP.

As her season drew to a close, let’s take a look at the numbers that made Nitura shine as the league’s next big thing.

33

It didn’t take long for the name “Shaina Nitura” to ring a bell for UAAP fans, as she dazzled in just her opening game for the Adamson Lady Falcons in Season 87.

Playing against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Valentine’s Day weekend, Nitura uncorked an impressive 33-point performance in a reverse sweep that propelled the wing spiker to immediate stardom.

Not only did Nitura bring the Lady Falcons to a cardiac victory on opening weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena, it also set a new scoring record for a rookie, surpassing former UE Lady Warriors’ Casiey Dongallo’s 30-point performance just last year.

38

Midway through the first round, it was already clear that Nitura was no one-game wonder as she repeatedly churned out high-scoring performances even as the Lady Falcons were still getting used to her leadership and play.

Going against the UP Fighting Maroons to end their first half of the season, Nitura eclipsed a long-standing record of now-PVL stars Alyssa Valdez and Sisi Rondina by scoring a whopping 38 points in the five-set battle at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last March 16.

Nitura surpassed the joint record of 35 points set by Valdez in Season 75 and Rondina in Season 81, as she officially entered the conversation of the best to ever play in collegiate women’s volleyball.

12

Nitura has not been amiss in making it known that volleyball phenom Alyssa Valdez is one of her idols, much like many other volleyball player in the Philippines.

It only seemed poetic that Nitura shattered another record previously held by Valdez, becoming the owner of the league’s highest scoring mark for a single women’s volleyball season. Vadlez scored 312 points for Ateneo during their perfect championship run in Season 77.

But last April 12, Nitura moved past Valdez with a 37-point outing to give her 314 points on the year.

What made it all the more impressive? It was only the 12th game of the season for Nitura. Meaning, not only did she surpass the phenom’s scoring record, she also did it in two less games.

344

Surely, NItura’s case to claim herself as the best to ever play in the UAAP in the women’s side is already taking shape, after her 12-game conquest of major the records in the division.

But the Adamson rookie didn’t stop there as she moved the needle to be the best-ever in the UAAP, period, after also surpassing UST’s Mark Alfafara’s single-season record of 344 points back in Season 76.

Much like Alyssa's record, Alfafara’s number was shattered before Nitura’s last game of the season as she eclipsed 344 markers in her penultimate game as Adamson battled La Salle to a five-setter.

6

When a player hits 30 points in a single volleyball game, it’s already impressive. But Nitura ended up with a whopping six 30-point outings in just her first season in the UAAP, nabbing her final 30-point game in the aforementioned La Salle match.

In a battle against the Lady Spikers during their 13th game of the season, Nitura finished with 35 points built on 33 attacks, one block, and one ace to move just one game short of finishing half her games in her rookie season with 30

or more points.

Her six games is also a league record for most 30-point games in a single season.

371

After all 14 games were done and dusted, Nitura ended up with a jaw-dropping 371 points total in scoring and a respectable 6-8 finish for the Adamson Lady Falcons.

A good 59 points clear of Valdez’s record, and 27 past Alfafara’s mark, Nitura has established one thing: She’s the next big star of UAAP women’s volleyball.

4

All of Nitura’s numbers are already sensational as it is, but what makes it all the more impressive — almost Herculean — is that she’s done it all as a rookie and a true freshman for the Adamson Lady Falcons.

The scariest thing about Nitura, especially for Adamson’s foes, is that she has the chance to have four more years to run it back and do the same damage (or more) in her remaining years with the San Marcelino-based squad.

If her rookie year is anything to base off of, the UAAP is in for a lot more from the 20-year-old.