Judiel Nitura is determined to make her final season with the Colegio de San Juan de Letran one for the history books.
The veteran opposite hitter delivered one of her best games this year, carrying the Lady Knights to a 17-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-14, 15-11 win against reigning four-time champion De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 women's volleyball finals on Sunday.
Game 2 promises to be tougher, but the graduating Nitura is determined to end the series on her terms and finally taste championship glory.
"Last dance na ‘yan. Keri na ‘yan, alis na tayo," Nitura said jokingly when asked about her final year.
(It's the last dance. That's okay, let's go leave.)
But on a more serious note, she added: "Syempre same focus pa rin kaming lahat lalo sa training namin. Kailangan naming tibayan pa lalo at saka magtiwala sa isa’t-isa."
(Of course, we all have to keep the same focus especially in training. We need to be tougher and have faith in each other.)
Nitura has been nothing short of explosive this season.
She’s been putting up phenomenal numbers for the Lady Knights, even recording her sixth game with over 20 points during the finals opener.
In that Game 1 clash, Nitura erupted for a team-high 21 points built on 18 attacks, one block, and two aces. One of those aces gave Letran a 13-11 lead in Set 5 before Vanessa Sarie sealed it with a bullet from the left side, bringing the Lady Knights near their first title since 1999.
For Nitura, the Game 1 victory is proof that the Lady Knights now have what it takes to overcome Benilde, who swept them in previous finals matchups during Seasons 99 and 100.
"Kasi syempre nu’ng first and second [finals series] namin, ando’n pa ‘yung big [guns] nila like sila (Gayle) Pascual, si Mycah Go, and ‘yung setter nila kaya solid talaga sila," Nitura added.
"So ngayon, alam naming hindi na kami magiging katulad nu’ng first at second championship namin. Ngayon, alam namin na kayang-kaya na namin kasama ‘yung mga coaches na nagtitiwala sa amin."
(Of course in the first and second finals series between us, they had big guns like Gayle Pascual, Mycah Go, and their setter so they were really solid... Now, So now, we know it won't just end up like those first and second times. Now, we know that we can do it, along with our coaches who placed their trust in us.)
—JMB, GMA News
