AS the men’s and women’s 87th UAAP volleyball tournament elimination rounds are set to wind down, the league will first take a short break to give way for Lent.
Before the stoppage, the future showed glimpses in the present as rookies Shaina Nitura of the Adamson Lady Falcons and AmetBituin of the FEU Tamaraws both led their teams to respective key victories, earning them the Collegiate Press Corps’ UAAP Players of the Week honors presented by the Philippine Sports Commission for the period of April 9 to 13.
Nitura, already playing beyond her years, has proved every ounce of hype is all worth it, after claiming a new league record for the fourth time this season for back-to-back Player of the Week citations supported by Discovery Suites and World Balance as minor sponsors.
The undisputed Rookie of the Year frontrunner and tournament’s current top scorer reset the record for most points in a season at 314 after dropping a whopping 37 markers built on 31 attacks, five blocks, and a service ace against Final Four-seeking FEU Lady Tamaraws.
Nitura breezed past the Season 77 mark set by Ateneo legend Alyssa Valdez with two more games to play and is now also the yardstick for most points in a single game (38) and most 30-point outings at five and counting.
“Hindi koalam kung anoangmafe-feel kodoon. Kasi, kung sa akin potalaga, sobrang bonus niya and thankful ako kay Lord nanabibigyanako ng opportunity naganoon, na in that way, may mga good things namangyayarisa akin,” Nitura said.
“Mas na-fe-feel kona mas gustongmanalo ng mga teammates ko, na gusto talaganilangibigayang best sa mga remaining games ng team. Nakikitakoyungpusonila and kapitnahindinilatatapusinnangbasta-basta,” she added.
Nitura nosed out UP’s KassyDoering and Joan Monares, NU’s Bella Belen, and UST’s Kyla Cordora for the weekly honor decided by print and online journalists covering the beat.
In the men’s side, Bituin helped secure the league-leading Tamaraws a twice-to-beat advantage, prevailing over both the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Adamson Falcons in the process.
In his first-ever career start, the rookie Bituin scored 17 points and added nine excellent receptions in FEU’s four-set triumph over Ateneo.
“Kahapon pa sainensayo, tinrynani coach naakoi-start. Kahitmedyo may confusion sa akin, mas pinagkatiwalaankolangyung coaching staff at yung teammates konanagu-up sa akin kahitminsan down ako,” the homegrown FEU high school star said after the game.
