Alyssa Valdez gushes over Nitura: 'She'll break more records'

MANILA, Philippines — Adamson Lady Falcons' Shaina Nitura posted the new UAAP women's volleyball scoring record of 38 points in a 15-25, 25-15, 26-24, 22-25, 10-15 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons in Season 87 first round action at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.

While Nitura's explosive scoring feat built on 35 attacks and three aces ended in a loss, the 20-year-old super rookie certainly impressed the volleyball community including Ateneo great and Creamline Cool Smashers hitter Alyssa Valdez.

Valdez, who once held the previous UAAP scoring record of 35 points alongside UST legend and Choco Mucho Flying Titans' Sisi Rondina, said that this is just the start for Nitura and that she is primed to break more records.

"Congratulations (to Nitura)," said the 31-year-old Valdez, who fired 16 points in Creamline's Game One 25-10, 27-25, 25-21 win over Chery Tiggo in the PVL All-Filipino Conference best-of-3 quarterfinal series at the PhilSports Arena on Tuesday.

"It's amazing to see this young girl doing so well in the UAAP. I hope she continues to enjoy the sport even after breaking all these records. This is just the beginning, and I'm sure she'll break even more, but I hope she stays passionate and eager to keep learning about volleyball."

Valdez first reset the scoring UAAP women's volleyball record when she banged 35 points on January 20, 2013 in Season 75 but just like Nitura, 'The Phenom' and the Blue Eagles ended up losing to the Adamson Lady Falcons at that time, 25-21, 25-22, 19-25, 16-25, 15-10.

Valdez's 35 was eventually matched by Rondina, who also suffered a loss in her record-tying performance as the Tigresses fell to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 19-25, 22-25, 27-25, 25-22, 15-11, in Season 81 on March 20, 2019.

Establishing these scoring standards in UAAP women's volleyball followed a trend that saw the record-setting players lose the match where they just made history.

Even Alyssa Solomon of the NU Lady Bulldogs had her share of that trend when she posted a Finals scoring record of 34 points in Game Two of the Season 85 Finals -- tying Valdez's output in an 18-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-16, 15-11 Season 78 Finals Game Two, series-tying win against La Salle on April 27, 2016.

Solomon's outburst wasn't enough as NU lost Game Two to La Salle, 25-19, 25-23, 15-25, 17-25, 10-15, and the series altogether on May 16, 2023.

Last Sunday, it was Nitura's turn to get the short end of the stick and Valdez hopes that she comes out more resilient after her 38-point explosion that practically went down the drain.

"I think most of those records came from a loss, right? That's something sports teaches us. In my experience, it really shows how much we can learn from tough moments. As an athlete, you always want to win, but sports teach us in a hard way sometimes," said Valdez.

"I hope she bounces back from this loss, becomes even more resilient, and works even harder. I also hope her team becomes more united and supportive of each other, especially since Adamson Lady Falcons have so much potential."