Adamson to pursue semis slot with mindset forged during NU upset
Adamson looked overmatched against a powerhouse National University squad chasing another victory. But the Lady Falcons weren’t ready to fold.
“We had nothing to lose, so we just attacked, defended, blocked, and served without fear,” said rookie sensation Shaina Nitura, after leading her team to a 25-23, 15-25, 28-26, 25-22 upset of the Lady Bulldogs last Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum..
With matches remaining against Far Eastern University, La Salle, and University of the Philippines—each fighting for playoff positions—the Lady Falcons are determined to bring the same energy into each game.
“That [kind of attitude] gave us the win. Now we’re keeping that mindset for the rest of the season,” Nitura said.
Anchored near the bottom of the UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball standings, Adamson became just the second team to shock the semifinal-bound Lady Bulldogs.
The win snapped a two-game skid and kept their flickering Final Four hopes alive, improving their record to 4-7 (win-loss), tied with Ateneo.
A loss would have been devastating for Adamson’s bid to see action in the postseason. But that was the farthest thing from the players’ minds.
“We didn’t think about being eliminated anymore,” Nitura said. “We told ourselves, ‘We have nothing to lose.’ So what if we lose?”
“It’s a big win, but we shouldn’t feel pressure. That’s on them. They’re the ones collecting wins to secure a spot. We were just playing freely,” she added.
Scoring milestone
Nitura again carried the scoring load with 32 points off 30 attacks and two blocks. She became the first player in the women’s volleyball tournament to have four 30-point games in a season.
Adamson’s game plan remained simple: Set up their star and let her go to work. And the Lady Falcons did just that as Nitura nearly matched the total output of her teammates, who combined for 35.
Defeating NU—the defending champions and a veteran-laden team—was no small feat, especially after being swept in their first meeting. And even as NU missed top hitter Alyssa Solomon, who was out with a left ankle sprain, Adamson felt the heat against the powerhouse club.
“They’ve proven a lot, but we’re all players—the ball is round,” said Nitura, now the first player to record four 30-point games in a season. “If it’s the Lord’s will—and it was His will for us to win—it’ll happen.”
She added: “It’s still scary to face them, but we didn’t let ourselves think we’d lose. That mindset made the difference.”
