Two of the country’s rising stars take centerstage as the vastly improved Adamson squad takes on former champion La Salle in the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball volleyball Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Super rookie Shaina Nitura, the juniors Most Valuable Player, and Angel Canino, also a high school MVP and the last women’s Rookie-MVP, star at 5 p.m. in the duel between the Lady Falcons and Lady Spikers fresh from contrasting debut campaigns.
Meanwhile, opening weekend losers University Santo Tomas (0-1) and University of the East (0-2) collide at 11 a.m. Their men’s teams battle at 9 a.m. as La Salle and Adamson men’s squads also clash at 3 p.m.
Nitura last weekend smashed the UAAP rookie record with 33 points to usher in a new era for Adamson with a stellar 21-25, 20-25, 25-12, 25-15, 15-12 comeback win against Ateneo.
She also matched the school record of Angela Benting in 2009. And now, she’s out for more — not for herself though but for the Lady Falcons eager to soar to new heights after winning their first-ever girls’ volleyball title courtesy of Nitura last season.
“Personally, hindi naman po ako naglo-look forward for anything na (individual). Bonus navlang po iyon. We want more for the team. Nakatikim na kami ngvisang panalo, we’re gonna be hungry for more,” said the high-flying spiker, who led Adamson to a 14-0 high school sweep in Season 86.
“Hindi naman po kami hihinto sa ganitong achievement lang kasi mas alam ko sa sarili ko na mas kaya ko pa po at mas gagalingan ko pa po sa mga susunod na laro.”
Nitura’s supernova debut erased the previous record set by UST’s Angge Poyos with 31 points in Season 86. Prior to that, Canino erupted for a record of 28 points in Season 85 when she was hailed as the Rookie-MVP as La Salle dethroned former Rookie-MVP Bella Belen and National University.
Canino, however, settled for seven points in the Lady Spikers’ straight-sets debut this season against the Lady Bulldogs, making it an expected stage for her fiery revenge even against the UAAP’s next big thing in Nitura and the Lady Falcons.
Saturday, February 22, (FilOil EcoOil Centre)
UST vs UE - 11:00 a.m.
The UST Golden Tigresses (0-1) and the UE Lady Warriors (0-1) will race to barge into the win column first as they battle early on Saturday morning for a bounce back victory at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
After falling flat against FEU, last year’s runners-up UST will attempt to get things going against an equally determined UE. With key cogs like Jonna Perdido and Xyza Gula out of commission, the España-based squad will latch on to
the likes of UAAP Season 86 Rookie of the Year Angge Poyos to lead the charge.
Meanwhile, UE, after showing promise in a comeback attempt against the UP Fighting Maroons, hope to strengthen its bid despite key offseason exits.
The Lady Warriors hope to ride their optimistic opener thanks to Khy Cepada stepping up into the starring role.
