JUST as her first flight in the UAAP seniors ranks was to be shot down, Shaina Nitura and Adamson dodged every other bullet that came their way in historic fashion.
On the shoulders of their super rookie, the Lady Falcons caught up to Ateneo from the depths of defeat and claimed a 21-25, 20-25, 25-12, 25-15, 15-12 reverse-sweep win in the Season 87 women’s volleyball tournament.
Armed with sports goggles, San Marcelino’s reigning juniors MVP broke the UAAP’s debut game and single-game rookie scoring record with 33 points on 28 attacks, four blocks, and one ace.
Nitura's 33 is also the most in a single game by an Adamson player in 16 years since school icon Angela Benting.
Even more, the 20-year-old fired eight of her points in Set 5 when it mattered most to gift the Lady Falcons only their second season-opening win in the last nine years.
University of Santo Tomas' Angge Poyos previously set the highest scoring output by a neophyte last season with 31 points en route to winning Rookie of the Year.
It was a record Nitura isn't putting too much weight on even as nerves got the better of her for the most part in a rookie performance quite literally like no other.
"Nung una talaga, very stiff po. First game jitters as a rookie. Though, mahirap siya kasi kanina, nirelax ko lang yung first ko at saka yung second set ko kasi I have to be composed pero hindi maganda yung timpla ng pagka-relax ko," Nitura said.
"Hindi naman po ako naglo-look forward for any (record) na ganon. Bonus nalang po ‘yun kung sakaling magkaroon, pero hindi pa naman po tapos ‘yung season. We want more for the team, not individually, but for the team.
"Dahil nakatikim kami ng isang panalo, I think we’re gonna be hungry for more."
Prayers up for Ateneo spiker
Adding insult to the Blue Eagles’ squandered two-set lead was a gruesome left knee injury sustained by wing spiker Zel Tsunashima in the closing stages of the fifth-set tiebreak.
The third-year ace had to be stretchered off the court, as she grimaced in pain while clinging onto her battered knee.
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