All eyes will be on Shaina Nitura and the Adamson Lady Falcons as they hunt for a Final Four return in UAAP Season 88.
After a record-breaking rookie year, Adamson superstar Shaina Nitura enters her sophomore season in UAAP Season 88 with added perspective.
In between UAAP seasons, Nitura gained plenty of lessons from her impressive stint with Alas Pilipinas Women, where she showed glimpses of a bright international career ahead.
Those experiences, Nitura said, have helped her grow both as a player and as a teammate for the Lady Falcons.
"Lahat ng natutunan ko dun, makakatulong siya if i-apply ko and makita ng mga teammates ko," Nitura told One Sports.
No pressure for the Queen Falcon
Aside from her Alas stint, Nitura is also coming off one of the most dominant seasons in UAAP women's volleyball history.
She became the first Adamson player to win Rookie of the Year, finished second in the MVP race behind NU’s Bella Belen, and rewrote multiple league records along the way.
This includes a whopping total of 371 points in Season 87 built on 333 attacks, 25 blocks, and 13 aces.
But despite the attention that comes with a historic freshman season, the 21-year-old outside hitter insisted she's not pressured on the expectations that naturally come her way.
"Wala naman po,” Nitura said. "Focus pa rin ako sa kung ano lang yung alam kong kaya ko, at alam din ng coaches kung ano yung kaya ko."
[ALSO READ: Shaina Nitura vows to keep working after UAAP Rookie of the Year plum: “Back to zero pa rin”]
With several new faces for Adamson this season, Nitura sees this as a positive sign for the Lady Falcons as they aim to reach the Final Four for the first time since Season 85.
"Exciting po kasi madami kaming bagong players ngayon, bagong blood talaga,” she said. “Okay naman so far kasi madali mag-bond. Friendly naman lahat."
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.