UP outlasts Adamson in marathon to spoil Shaina Nitura's historic 38-point game

The University of the Philippines proved to be the steadier team in a thrilling five-set showdown with Adamson University, eking out a narrow 25-15, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, in the UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball tournament on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The win enabled the Fighting Maroons to end a four-game losing streak and improve to 3-4 while the Lady Falcons fell to their fourth defeat in a row to go 2-5. 

It took UP a collective effort to achieve the feat. 

Going up against the one-woman show of Shaina Nitura, UP flaunted teamwork in the deciding fifth set with Irah Jaboneta coming alive in the frame and scoring three straight kills that sent Adamson to a 6-4 lead. 

Another pair of kills from her made it an 8-5 cushion before both teams switched sides. 

But Adamson fought back as Nitura, who set a new UAAP scoring record of 38 points, continued to detonate as she nailed a strong backrow attack that sliced the gap to just a point, 8-9. 

UP, though, was undaunted amidst the Adamson comeback with middle blocker Nina Ytang sending back an overpass from Nitura to turn it to an 11-8 advantage. 

Ytang unleashed another quick bomb before Nitura committed a net infraction, giving UP the match point at 14-10. Jaboneta made sure her and her team's efforts won't go to waste as she unloaded the game-winning push using her left hand. 

Four UP players breached double-digit mark with Ytang exploding with 20 points on 15 attacks, three blocks, and two aces while Jaboneta churned out 19 markers, highlighted by seven points in the fifth set, to go with 12 digs and 11 receptions. 

Olango and Joan Monares both chipped in 15 points with the latter also grabbing 17 digs. 

Nitura's historic game, which saw the rookie team captain pour in monster 38 points anchored on 35 attacks and three aces, will go for naught as Adamson continued its slide. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News