Adamson University’s Shaina Nitura. Photo from UAAP Media/Neo Garcia.MANILA — Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas both made waves as they enter the home stretch of their respective UAAP Season 87 women’s and men’s volleyball campaigns.
Lady Falcons rookie captain Shaina Nitura and the Growling Tigers’ two-time reigning MVP Josh Ybañez reminded the rest of the field that they are more than just big names. They have big games, too.
Nitura and Ybañez got the better of their MVP challengers and potential Final Four rivals this week. As a result, the hard-hitting duo was recognized as the Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Players of the Week, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, for the period of April 2 to 6.
Nitura’s remarkable feat was the accumulation of back-to-back 30-point performances and her fourth in 11 games thus far, surpassing any other player in UAAP women’s volleyball history in a single season.
The 20-year-old rookie-skipper's most recent standout performance was a near triple-double, where she amassed 36 points, 11 digs, and nine receptions in a 25-18, 23-25, 22-25, 7-25, 15-8 five-set loss to UST.
Nitura then orchestrated the Lady Falcons’ biggest win of the season yet by beating reigning MVP Bella Belen and defending champion National University in four sets, 25-23, 15-25, 28-26, 25-22.
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This triumph prevented the San Marcelino side from suffering their seventh consecutive loss in their last eight games, one that would have knocked them out of the Final Four race.
Even as she builds a name for herself as a serial record-breaker, Nitura refuses to bask in the glory of blazing a historic trail in a one-of-a-kind rookie year.
The only outcome that counts for Nitura? Winning and nothing more.
“‘Di ko po talaga siya pinapansin [yung records]. Hindi ko po ‘yun masyado nilalagay sa utak ko at sa heart ko. Hindi naman po ‘yun ‘yung goal dahil ‘yung goal po, manalo,” said Nitura, who bested De La Salle University pair Angel Canino and Mikole Reyes, UST duo Angge Poyos and Cassie Carballo, and Far Eastern University's Faida Bakanke for the weekly citation.
“Sobrang nakatulong po yung past games namin na puro nga kami talo kasi pinapatibay talaga kami and mas nagugutom sa panalo. Lagi kami china-challenge na ‘ito lang ba talaga kami’ o ‘hahayaan ba namin na mag-continue ito,’” she added.
University of Santo Tomas’ Josh Ybañez. Photo from UAAP Media.Meanwhile, not even a two-week injury layoff from a Grade 2 ankle sprain earlier this season could slow Ybañez down in the men’s tilt as he continues to flex his MVP form in the midst of a three-game win streak.
The 5-foot-7 Alas Pilipinas high-flyer helped UST clip Adamson and Ateneo’s wings in a pair of straight-sets victories.
Ybañez fired 13 points and nine receptions in a 25-12, 25-18, 25-18 sweep of the Soaring Falcons before taking flight with 24 markers, nine receptions, and five digs over MVP frontrunner Kennedy Batas and the Blue Eagles, 26-24, 25-17, 25-22.
READ: UST sweeps Ateneo, captures 7th win in men's volleyball
Despite his undersized stature, Ybañez continues to demonstrate how her unwavering determination and passion for the game can overcome any physical limitations.
“Lagi ko lang iniisip na once na nasa loob ako ng court, I have to do something, na makapag-contribute ako nang marami sa team in all aspects, not just sa attacking pero sa dig, receive, and maraming department ng volleyball, especially sa block kasi doon ako mahina,” said Ybañez.
The Growling Tigers winger edged out his teammate and captain Dux Yumbao, La Salle tandem Noel Kampton and Eco Adajar, FEU’s Dryx Saavedra, and NU’s Greg Ancheta.
UST and Adamson will resume the closing stages of their Top Four pursuits on Saturday against University of the East and FEU, respectively, at the Araneta Coliseum.
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