UP breaks out of its losing slump after surviving a monster game for Shaina Nitura, who set a new scoring record in UAAP women’s volleyball.
The UP Fighting Maroons snapped their losing skid at the expense of a record-breaking performance by Adamson’s Shaina NItura, as they beat the Lady Falcons in five sets, 25-15, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, to close out their first round schedule in UAAP Season 87 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.
Irah Jaboneta took over as she scored seven of her 19 points in the deciding fifth set to tow UP to victory.
Jaboneta’s heroics gave way for UP to survive an absolute master of a performance from Nitura as she scored 38 points — a new UAAP scoring record in women’s volleyball. She eclipsed the previous record shared by Alyssa Valdez and Sisi Rondina at 35 points.
Coincidentally, both games from Valdez and Rondina in 2013 and 2019, respectively, were also losses.
UP bounced back from a 4-game losing slump as they leaned on Jaboneta in the fifth set. But the rest of the team stepped up when Nitura steered Adamson to as close as a point, 8-9, in the final canto.
But Kianne Olango and Niña Ytang scored on back-to-back rallies to push UP’s lead to three, 11-8.
Jaboneta provided the finishing blow when she scored after a long rally to seal UP’s third win of the season, 15-10.
UP improved its record to 3-4 thanks to a team effort where four Fighting Maroons breached double figures.
Jaboneta’s 19 points also came with 12 excellent digs and 11 excellent receptions.
Ytang was the top scorer with 20 markers while Joan Monares proved to be a steady contributor all-around with 15 points, 17 excellent digs, and 14 excellent receptions. Olango also had 15 markers in the victory.
Meanwhile, Nitura’s 38 points also came with eight excellent digs and 15 excellent receptions.
However, it wasn’t enough for Adamson who are now losers of four straight games and end the first round at 2-5.