Shaina Nitura’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric. From dominating the collegiate stage as UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year to donning the national colors with Alas Pilipinas Women, the promising Adamson University outside hitter is now on a mission — to steer the Lady Falcons back into the UAAP women’s volleyball elite.
Fresh from her international breakthrough, Nitura is determined to pour every ounce of that hard-earned experience into Adamson’s campaign.
“I think I’ll use everything na natutunan ko doon sa Alas ay dadalhin ko dito sa Adamson, lalo’t na applicable siya sa amin ngayon,” she said, her words carrying the weight of a player who has seen the game from both the domestic and international trenches.
The past few months have been a whirlwind for the Cainta, Rizal native. She made her national team debut last June, helping the Philippines capture a historic silver medal at the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup — the country’s first-ever podium finish in the tournament.
After a brief breather — sitting out the 2025 VTV Cup — Nitura roared back into action, playing pivotal roles in Alas Pilipinas Women’s back-to-back third-place finishes in the Southeast Asia V.League legs in Thailand and Vietnam.
“Masaya, sobrang saya. Kasi doon, hindi lang school na yung linalaban niyo, kundi yung bansa niyo na. Sa lahat ng dinami-dami ng players, kami yung napili para i-represent yung Philippines," she reflected, fresh off an explosive 28-point showing that carried Adamson to a grueling five-set triumph over Far Eastern University in the 2025 V-League Women’s Collegiate Challenge.
While the medals and accolades are sweet, Nitura treasures the learning curve she experienced alongside some of the nation’s best — Alas Pilipinas captain Jia de Guzman, offensive ace Eya Laure, defensive dynamo Dawn Catindig, and head coach Jorge de Brito.
Equally valuable were the battles against regional stars such as Vietnam’s Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, and Thailand’s Pimpichaya Kokram, MVP of the SEA V.League’s first leg.
“Sobrang dami ko natututunan talaga doon sa mga nakakasama ko na veterans, pati yung mga naglalaro na nakakalaban namin sa ibang bansa. Sobrang galing nila, wala ako masabi,” she admitted.
If there’s one lesson that stands out, it’s patience — something she feels is crucial for Adamson’s young core that features fellow standouts Fhei Sagaysay, Abegail Segui, and MG Del Moral.
“Siguro yung pasensya talaga, kasi doon talaga ay hindi automatic na mapapatay ko yung bola. Siguro yon yung ituturo ko or ishe-share ko sa kanila na kailangan nila magkaroon ng mahabang pasensya, kasi kung sino yung mayroon na mahabang pasensya, ‘yon din naman ang big possibility na manalo,” Nitura explained.
Her UAAP rookie season shattered records, and her national team stint elevated her profile even further. But amid growing expectations, Nitura remains composed, brushing off the weight of outside pressure.
“No pressure pa rin talaga sa akin. I don’t always have to perform like an ace kasi kahit sinong player naman ay kaya maglaro ng A-game nila every day. There’s no pressure talaga sa akin, pero ngayon, since marami nangyayari, ang pinaka-importante sa akin ay yung recovery,” she shared.
For Nitura, the formula is simple: focus on the task at hand, trust the process, and give her all for the team.
"I’ll just do my job, yung pinapagawa ng coaches, para ma-achieve yung gusto ng team."
