Ace rookie Shaina Nitura displayed humility even after a record-breaking season for the Adamson Lady Falcons in UAAP Season 87.
Among the most famous quotes in sports is when Larry Bird spoke about Michael Jordan’s 63-point game against the Celtics, where Bird said that he played against “God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
That sentiment somewhat mirrors what record-breaking rookie Shaina Nitura of the Adamson Lady Falcons said about her stellar season in the UAAP, where she ended up with a whopping 371 points at the end of 14 games.
Leaps and bounds clear of Alyssa Valdez’ former women's record of 312, and Mark Alfafara’s men's record of 344 points which were the erstwhile standards, Nitura wasn’t one to take the credit for all the performances she was able to come out with this year.
Rather, Nitura had nothing but praise for God as she wrapped up the season with a 22-point win in three sets over UP.
[READ: Shaina Nitura ends record-breaking UAAP Season 87 with Adamson win over UP]
“Hindi ko alam paano ide-describe [yung rookie season ko]. Ano na lang siguro, God’s will talaga,” said Nitura, who also owns the single-game record for most points in a UAAP women’s volleyball game with 38 points.
“Sinurrender ko lang din talaga lahat. Lahat ng nangyari is will Niya and magtitiwala pa rin ako sa seasons na tatahakin namin.”
It’s hard to not get lost in the numbers and records when you perform in the way that Nitura does — which included six 30-point games in a span of two rounds, also a UAAP record.
But for Nitura, who has long discussed the role of faith in her life as a student-athlete, everything will always be as God planned it — especially as they look ahead to the next seasons.
[RELATED: Adamson Scoring Falcon: Shaina Nitura ends UAAP Season 87 with record 371 points]
Expecting to get a lot of help in the coming years with high school products moving up to the seniors team, Nitura still deferred of promising anything for next year, saying it will all be up to God’s plan for herself and the Lady Falcons.
“Hindi ko alam [kung ano mangyayari next year] kasi depende ‘yan kung paano ko papaghirapan at paano ko pupursigihin yung mga next seasons kasi I cannot say, God’s will na lang din talaga,” said the wing spiker.
“Siya lang may alam. Pursigi lang, ingat lang din, iwas injury, tapos disiplina sa sarili,” she added.
Regardless, count on the 20-year-old as well to continue pushing, even as she’s already set a new standard for women’s volleyball in the UAAP.
With a lengthy offseason ahead of them, expect Nitura to work on everything she can to hopefully improve not just on her skills but also how she relates with the people in her corner.
“Lahat [may room for improvement]. Pati sa attitude towards others, sa team, and sa coaches,” she said.
Nitura and the Adamson Lady Falcons end their season with a 6-8 slate and finish the year in 5th place.