FIGHTING to the finish, the University of the Philippines spoiled Shaina Nitura’s record-breaking game to fend off Adamson in five sets, 25-15, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, in UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball on Sunday at Araneta Coliseum.
The Lady Falcons' super rookie posted 38 points, the most by any player in a single game since Alyssa Valdez (2013) and Sisi Rondina (2019) both had 35-marker games in losing efforts to Adamson and Ateneo, respectively.
Eye-popping, jaw-dropping, and record-breaking as Nitura's performance was, however, it was the Fighting Maroons who proved clutch, with returning Nina Ytang and veteran Irah Jaboneta delivering the goods in the final frame.
Jaboneta fired seven of her 19 points in the fifth-set tiebreak alone, along with 11 digs and 11 receptions to lead State U's comeback from 1-2 down.
Two-time second-best middle blocker Ytang then had her best game yet after an early string of off-games with 20 points built on 15 attacks, three blocks, and two aces.
Ytang, the veteran leader who has long manned the middle for the Fighting Maroons, nearly broke into tears midway through the match when Adamson was a set away from victory.
"Kanina nu'ng mga third set, sobrang emotional na ako nu'n. Mangiyak-iyak na ako nu'n. Thankful naman ako dahil hindi naman ako senior talaga, nandiyan pa yung mga ate ko, nandiyan sila at rine-remind ako na tama nga naman, hindi ito oras para matakot at mawalan ng loob," she said.
"Sabi ko talaga at inisip ko na lang na isa na ako sa mga matatanda kaya hindi ko pwede ipakita sa team na nada-down ako at hinahayaan kong maapektuhan yung laro ko sa emotions ko."
Joining Jaboneta and Ytang in the quartet of double-digit scoring UP aces were Joan Monares and rookie Kianne Olango with 15 markers each.
The gutsy win put an end to the maroon-and-green's four-game skid, pushing it all the way to fifth-place at 3-4 to end Round 1.
Unable to capitalize on Nitura's historic feat, Adamson closed out a dismal opening-round run with four straight losses and five in its last six outings.
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