University of the Philippines withstood Shaina Nitura’s UAAP women’s volleyball tournament record 38 points, escaping Adamson University 25-15, 15-25, 24-26, 25-22, 15-10, to close the Season 87 first round on a high note at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, March 16.

Although Nitura went for a new league scoring mark, it was Irah Jaboneta who stole the show in the deciding set.

The third-year spiker out of De La Salle-Zobel fired seven of her 19 points in the fifth set with the final point the most important.

Jaboneta’s push shot went through the blockers to give UP the hard-fought, spoiler win after two hours and 25 minutes.

“Siguro given na ‘yun si Nitura possible talaga can score that many points, even more pa depende sa close ng laro pero with UP, tulong tulong talaga kasi ‘yun ‘yung binabantayan namin sa kanila, kapag may nawawala doon sa plano, binabalik lang namin sila kasi we need to work as a group talaga,” said UP head coach Benson Bocboc.

The Fighting Maroons’ valiant fightback that denied Nitura a happy ending for the day snapped a four-game slide to end the round at solo fifth with a 3-4 record.

“Nadala lang din ako as a senior sa loob ng court, hindi puwedeng tahimik ako. Bigla rin akog nabuhayan na kailangan makita nila akong lumalaban para alam na lalaban din sila, sabay kami lalaban para sa team,” said Jaboneta, who completed her well-rounded game with 12 excellent digs and 11 receptions.

Middle blocker Niña Ytang, who made her return after missing the past two games, led UP’s balanced scoring with 20 points on 15-of-25 attacks, three blocks, and two aces.

Joan Monares added 15 points, 17 digs, and 14 receptions, while Kianne Olango also had 15 points in the win.

Nitura delivered a monster performance of 38 points on 35 spikes and three aces, surpassing the 35-point records by former Ateneo de Manila University standout Alyssa Valdez and University of Santo Tomas main gunner Sisi Rondina.

Coincidentally, the records by Valdez (Season 75, 2013) and Rondina (Season 81, 2019) also ended up in losses.

Valdez’s Ateneo lost to Adamson on January 20, 2013, 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 25-16, 10-15, while Rondina’s UST bowed to Ateneo on March 20, 2019, 25-19, 25-22, 25-27, 22-25, 11-15.

Seldom-used Barbie Jamili also made her presence felt in the stinging defeat with 18 points and 10 digs while rookie setter Fhei Sagaysay tossed 30 excellent sets.

Second-year libero Juris Manuel also shone with 28-of-42 excellent receptions and 16 digs.

The Lady Falcons dropped their fourth consecutive match for a 2-5 record at joint-sixth with the Ateneo Blue Eagles.