GROWING up in a family of athletes with four older siblings playing competitively, it wasn’t hard to imagine that Shaina Nitura would eventually follow suit.
But the Cainta native, the Nituras' youngest girl, once thought otherwise.
Surrounded by all that competitive energy at home, she grew up shy and preferred staying out of the spotlight, happy to clap for everyone else.
“Dati kasi, mas ok ako sa taga-support nila lahat, ‘yung andyan lang ako sa gilid, muse lang, ganon,” she jokingly told SPIN.ph.
Make no mistake, however, it runs deep in the Nitura blood to be competitive.
As Shaina put it, “Pero kahit sa laro-laro lang, text, pogs, larong bata, competitive na talaga kami sa isa’t-isa. Walang nagpapatalo talaga, ganon kami lumaki.”
READ: Why Adamson super rookie Nitura let go of badminton for volleyball
Still, she had no interest in playing ball and long ignored the influence of her parents and older siblings—among them a former teammate of Jaja Santiago at National University, NCAA and RTU basketball players, and her closest sister Judiel, who currently plays for Letran. She also has a younger brother, their bunso, in the NCAA juniors.
It wasn’t until the summer of her third grade that she was pushed to try volleyball, simply out of boredom.
“Nagmemerienda lang kami, tapos umuwi yung ate ko galing training, tapos sabi sa'kin, ‘Oh, ba’t 'di ka sumama bukas para masubukan mo?' Ayaw ko pa, pero dahil wala naman ako ginagawa, bakasyon, sumama ako,” she continued.
And since then, she hasn’t let go of the ball. Her cutthroat attitude finally found somewhere organized to go to.
“Nagustuhan ko dito talaga. Grabe, lahat gagawin ko para 'di bumagsak bola, lahat gagawin ko para paliparin siya. Yung dynamics nung sport, perfect siya sa pagiging competitive ko, kaya ayun, minahal ko,” she said of volleyball, the sport she fell in love with.
Shy-na no more, as Shaina soars
Fast forward to UAAP Season 87, and the 20-year-old Adamson winger wasted no time making her presence felt, breaking scoring records and becoming the no-brainer Rookie of the Year, announcing her arrival on the collegiate scene.
READ: In just her rookie season, these are all the records Shaina Nitura broke
Months later, she was called up for national team duties with Alas Pilipinas, where she also showed encouraging numbers in the SEA V.League. Her performance even drew foreign fans asking for photos.
Recently, Nitura and the Lady Falcons raised their V.League preseason record to 3-0, moving to the top of the women’s bracket after a triumph over NCAA dynasty Benilde.
Going from a self-professed muse to the face of new-age Adamson volleyball, Nitura sees herself continuing to grow, as she cherishes the institution’s care and support.
“I’m in the right place kasi hindi lang sa program yung growth dito, the school, the community, the admin, they take care of me and us very well,” she said.
And for Nitura, who long shied away from the spotlight, the court is now hers to conquer.
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