SHAINA Nitura has been one of the notable absentees for Alas Pilipinas in the ongoing 6th SEA V.Cup.
The reigning UAAP MVP for Adamson has been forced to sit out both legs of the regional meet due to a left foot injury, denying the national team the talents of one of the Philippines' brightest stars.
READ: Alas Women finish out of SEA V.Cup podium after loss to Indonesia
But Nitura expects the setback to be a brief one.
“Yung injuries naman, very minor naman siya. As of now, recovering ako and soon, I'll be back,” she said.
Her recovery could not come at a better time, with another possible call of duty looming for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan this September.
And Nitura has made it clear she is willing and available should her name make the final cut.
“Masaya siya and looking forward kung sakaling mapasama ako sa lineup. Great opportunity siya sa akin and andaming pwede kong makuha na experience and learning kasi one of the biggest stages na ‘yun na pwede mong ma-achieve as a player,” she said.
“Kung mabigyan ako ng opportunity to play there, ite-take advantage ko lahat ng opportunity na kaya kong kunin and learnings na pwede kong kunin para madala ko ulit for my team and myself.”
Alas Shaina
There is good reason Nitura remains eager to get back into an Alas uniform.
What started as an opportunity to represent the country became an experience she holds dear, thanks to getting the chance to train and compete alongside veterans she had looked up to long before her own career took off.
“It feels very special kasi ‘yung mga nakasama ko du’n, mga beterano na eh. Since bata ako, na hindi pa ako nag-start mag-volleyball, nakikita ko na sila maglaro. So who would have thought na, sa college career ko, makakasama ko silang mag-training, makakasama sa loob ng court to compete against other countries or other players,” she said.
“Ano siya sa akin, overwhelming and very special. Lagi ko siyang tine-treasure kasi I never expected na gano'n din sila ka-humble.”
More than sharing the court with some of the country's established stars, Nitura has also found mentors willing to take her under their wing and pass on lessons drawn from years of experience.
“Ang dami ko kasi talagang natutunan sa kanila. Through ups and downs, talagang gano'n pa rin sila, at ginagabayan nila ako. Alam na nila ‘yung sasabihin sa akin kasi na-experience nila. 'Yun talaga ‘yung nagpapa-special para sa akin,” she said.
The injury may have temporarily put Nitura's national team journey on hold, but it has hardly changed how she views the opportunity.
And should another call come in the next few weeks, this time for an even bigger stage in the Asiad, Nitura is most definitely going to answer it.
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