Written by Akari Sports Staff | Photo from The UAAP
SOPHOMORE Shai Nitura made history, officially becoming Adamson’s first-ever UAAP women’s volleyball Season MVP.
The 21-year-old outside spiker, who also won MVP and Finals MVP honors in the girls’ division in Season 86, was formally awarded before Game 2 of the UAAP Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Finals between unbeaten La Salle and two-time defending champion National University on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
After becoming the first Lady Falcon in the 2000s to win Rookie of the Year in Season 87, Nitura raised her game even further in Season 88. She dominated multiple skill departments to top the MVP race with 98.511 statistical points (SP), while also steering Adamson to its first Final Four appearance since 2023 with a 9-5 record.
The pride of Cainta, Rizal, pulled away for the MVP plum by 16 points over runner-up and teammate Nigerian Frances Mordi (82.766 SP), powered by her all-around brilliance on both offense and defense. She tallied 284 points on 248 attacks, 24 blocks, and 12 aces, while ranking third in spiking efficiency at 38.15% and seventh in service aces with an average of 0.26 per set.
On the defensive end, Nitura—who still holds the UAAP volleyball scoring record across all divisions with 371 points in Season 87—finished fourth in receptions with a 44.48% efficiency and eighth in digs with 2.11 excellent digs per set.
“Again, grateful na binigay ni God ito sa akin, and again, I am gonna be happy and grateful, pero hindi naman doon titigil yung career ko, yung career namin, and yung pagpu-push namin to get into the Finals. Nandoon pa rin talaga yung focus namin,” Nitura said.
“Actually, this only means na capable kami makapasok ng Finals kasi meron kaming Fhei at meron kaming other players na pwede mag-push through it sa upcoming seasons na meron kami with the team,” she added.
Nitura also earned her first Best Outside Spiker citation with 303 ranking points (RP), joining La Salle’s Angel Canino (272 RP), who secured the award for the third time in her UAAP career. Canino posted a 39.06% spiking efficiency (second-best) and ranked third in receptions with a 45.89% success rate.
Lady Spikers captain Shevana Laput claimed her second straight Best Opposite Spiker award after finishing with 188 RP, highlighted by a 36.55% spiking efficiency (sixth in the league) and 0.65 blocks per set (fifth overall).
La Salle’s Amie Provido (206 RP) was one of the league’s Best Middle Blockers along with University of the Philippines’ Niña Ytang. Provido led the league in blocking with 43 total blocks and a 0.83 average per set.
Adamson’s Fhei Sagaysay was named Best Setter.
