The biggest thing Shaina Nitura learned from Alas Pilipinas wasn’t a new volleyball skill.

It was patience.

After going up against the continent’s top players in the AVC Challenge Cup and SEA V-League, the 20-year-old Adamson star returned to lead a young Lady Falcons squad—this time, with a deeper sense of calm.

“Right now, we’re focused on what we need as a team. The coaches are very patient with us and our journey,” Nitura said in Filipino. “Most of the players we’re using are young, so we’re working on building a strong foundation. That’s what I learned from being in the national team—patience with the process we’re going through.”

Nitura was a steady presence for Alas Pilipinas, contributing as a key substitute during their silver-medal run in the AVC and back-to-back bronze finishes in the SEA V-League. Now back with Adamson, she’s carrying those lessons into her leadership role.

Fei Sagaysay, Nitura’s setter since high school, said the experience shaped her into a stronger captain—despite being just a sophomore.

“We’re really grateful for her because she leads so well as our captain, even though we’re only in our second year,” Sagaysay told the Inquirer in Filipino. “Her leadership is just natural, like she was really built for it. And we’re thankful because she never leaves us behind. She’s always there to lift us up, especially during tough moments.”

“I think her level of play has really improved, and she’s also grown a lot in terms of character,” she added. “She’s learned so much from Alas that she can now apply to help our team.”

Rookie Abby Segui, who backstopped Nitura with a strong offensive performance on her birthday, credited her high school teammate for helping shape her mindset as she enters college.

“Shaina has really helped me a lot, especially in building my character,” said Segui.

Nitura, the UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year, who once erupted for 38 points in a single game and tallied a season-high 371 points, has embraced the added responsibility.

“They’re really doing great,” she said of her teammates. “They’re stepping up—not just in their roles, but sometimes they even cover for the things I can’t do.”

For Adamson coach JP Yude, that sense of shared accountability and calm under pressure is exactly what she brought home from the international stage.

“It’s leadership. That’s her biggest improvement [after Alas],” Yude said in Filipino. “But it’s still a process, especially in crucial moments—how to lead the team and how to score when it matters.”

Nitura is with Adamson in Mandaue, Cebu, where they are campaigning in the Shakey’s Super League. On Saturday, Adamson defeated the University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 25-15, 25-10, 25-16, at Mandaue Sports Complex, behind Nitura’s 15 points.