Adamson University stormed back to the UAAP Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Final Four for the first time in three seasons after a gutsy 25-20, 25-22, 25-23 win over Far Eastern University on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The Lady Falcons finished the Season 88 elimination round with a 9-5 record, currently in solo third, with the other top five teams still having games remaining.
It was a rousing finish for Adamson, which defeated Final Four contenders University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, and FEU to clinch a semifinal berth.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“I’m really happy and blessed with the players ko ngayon on how they performed, they always respond to the situation nang maayos. Up and down ang laro pero until the end, hindi kami bumitaw, nagrespond kami nang maayos,” said Lady Falcons head coach JP Yude.
“Sabi nga, si Lord after three days He rose again, kami after three years, we rose again.”
Adamson last reached the semifinals in Season 85, where it finished with the bronze medal before a mass departure of players forced the program into a rebuild over the next two seasons, during which it managed only nine wins combined.
Shaina Nitura, the face of the resurgence, delivered in the crucial win with 18 points on 12 attacks, four aces, and two blocks, along with 10 receptions and six digs.
Ahead by just one late in the third set, 23-22, Nitura drilled a precise pipe attack to push Adamson to match point. FEU momentarily stayed alive after Fhei Sagaysay served long, but the Lady Tamaraws could not extend the rally.
Sagaysay quickly made amends, though. She delivered a sharp set to Third Tuddao, who finished with a quick attack to seal the match — and Adamson’s Final Four return — in one hour and 25 minutes.
The Lady Tamaraws briefly attempted to challenge the final sequence, hoping Sagaysay had crossed the centerline after her set. But the review was unsuccessful to the delight of the home crowd inside the packed UST arena.
“Very grateful ako sa kung paano nag-respond yung team. ‘Yun nga, kahapon pa lang, sinusubok na kami; pinaparamdam sa amin ‘yung hirap na haharapin namin ngayon,” said Nitura, who also drew MVP chants during the match.
“Ang ni-remind lang talaga sa amin ng coaches na kahit gaano kapangit ang laruin namin, basta we find a way out para ang outcome ay panalo.”
Nigerian outside hitter Frances Mordi added 12 points, eight digs, and six receptions, while Tuddao chipped in 10 points on six attacks and four blocks.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
FEU, meanwhile, dropped to 7-6 in fifth place and now faces a must-win against Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday, while also needing favorable results in UST’s remaining games to stay in contention for the Final Four.
Petallo led the Lady Tamaraws with 11 points, alongside nine receptions and five digs, while Alyzza Devosora added nine points.
It also did not help FEU’s cause that it committed 25 errors, seven more than Adamson.
