FOR a change, Shaina Nitura knows she doesn't need to be the ‘buhatera’ she's always been for Adamson when she suits up for Alas Pilipinas.
The newly-crowned UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball Rookie of the Year had the hopes of all of San Marcelino on her shoulders where she shattered one record after the other, capped by an all-time high 371-point haul.
READ: Life without Nitura awaits SGVIL defending champion Adamson
A debut season like no other drew her one step closer to another career milestone and a childhood dream realized — a national team call-up.
Nitura began training with the nationals roughly a week after the conclusion of UAAP Season 87 as she vies for a roster spot ahead of multiple continental meets coming up for Alas Women.
Even if it means getting less passes or making less attempts than the 100-plus hits she gets to fire with Adamson, Nitura’s ready to make the necessary compromises and give whatever it takes for the golden opportunity to fly the flag.
In fact, she thinks it’ll be her veteran teammates that would lift her in games than the other way around as she’s been accustomed to since high school.
“Hindi ko nga po maramdaman ‘yung weight sa shoulders ko kasi ‘yung mga kasama ko du’n, magagaling talaga eh. Parang ako po ata ‘yung bubuhatin nila sa paglalaro,” Nitura said.
“No pressure naman po. Ang goal ko lang talaga po ay maka-gain ng experience po sa kanila at mag-improve.”
By no means, however, does this mean that Nitura will be ‘toning down’ her high-octane energy whenever she sets foot on the court.
“Hindi naman po ako magto-tone down. I’ll just continue doing me, ta’s sila rin po ginagawa po nila [‘yung roles nila],” Nitura said.
“‘Yung ginagawa kong ‘me,’ mas more sila du’n. Hindi ko naman siguro need i-tone down kasi ‘yung ginagawa nila, kahit ‘di ako mag-tone down, nandu’n naman sila.”
What dreams are made of
Nitura’s been walking through a yellow brick road early into her Adamson career, both in the high school and college ranks.
She’s been living the dream, to say the least, but her ambitions now are much higher after all the success she’s already amassed.
“Since high school naman ako, isa sa pinaka-major dream ko rin is mapabilang sa national team talaga,” Nitura said.
“Hindi ko pa talaga masabi kung gaano ako ka-ready pero for sure, pagtatrabahuan ko na maging better and qualified for the team.”
Whether for school or country, Nitura’s dead-set on raising her own bar even higher to make more of her dreams — including the UAAP seniors’ crown — come true.
“‘Yun ‘yung goal, mag-champion sa UAAP. ‘Di matatanggal ‘yun sa team namin if kaya talaga. I mean for me, kaya basta pagtrabahuan lang at kapag will ni Lord, mangyayari naman,” Nitura said.
“Back to zero, work lang nang work, strive lang, magtulungan lang. Let’s see.”
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