It was indeed a chosen generation for Adamson University’s women’s volleyball program, as the Lady Falcons captured the V-League Collegiate Challenge championship for the second straight season.
The Lady Falcons battled through adversity and overcame the stiff challenge of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in four sets, 25–23, 23–25, 26–24, 25–15, in Game 2 of the best-of-three Finals on Friday at the FilOil Centre.
In a showdown between the league’s last two women’s champions, the defending titleholders delivered when it mattered most, pulling away in the fourth and final set.
Season MVP and eventual Finals MVP Frances Mordi extended Adamson’s lead to three, 11–8, with a service ace before Lhouriz Tuddao followed with back-to-back kills to give the Lady Falcons a 13–9 cushion.
Captain Shaina Nitura then joined the scoring spree, pushing Adamson’s advantage to seven at 18–11 with three consecutive points built on two kills and a service ace.
From there, the Lady Falcons never looked back, responding to UST’s attempts to mount a comeback to clinch the set, the match, and the championship.
“I really appreciate mga bata on how they responded in bad situations all the time. Ganoon talaga, iyan ang gusto naming ma-accomplish every time. Nawala yung first setter namin so medyo nag-off pero I really thank the Lord on how he puts our hearts on how we respond properly during that situation,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude on how his championship-winning squad handled adversity.
“I’m grateful and blessed because on how the Lord is working on our lives. A little bit working, bumubunga. So I really always push the players; I always remind them,” he added.
Mordi followed up her impressive Game 1 performance with another 21-point outing, finishing with 18 attacks, two blocks, and one service ace.
“That was what we’re working on, everyone playing for themselves without depending on anyone. I’m glad that we were able to play as a team without one of our strongest players. We were able to trust ourselves and the coaches,” said the Nigerian standout about how Adamson performed despite the absence of an injured teammate.
“We can play without her, but with her, we are stronger. It’s a win-win for everyone,” Mordi added.
(C) V-League Images
Nitura also starred in the championship-clinching victory, matching Mordi’s 21-point output with 20 attacks and one service ace. Tuddao chipped in 10 points, while Janna Dizon contributed seven.
However, the championship triumph came at a cost, as the Lady Falcons lost starting setter Fhei Sagaysay to a right ankle injury in the opening set.
Bella Sapienza stepped up in her absence, recording 19 excellent sets as Adamson converted them into 62 attack points.
Zinny Unekwe led the Golden Tigresses with 12 points on seven attacks and five blocks, while Kim Rubin and Reg Jurado added 11 points apiece. Angge Poyos, meanwhile, was limited to just five points.
Strong starts proved crucial in the opening three sets, with the team that seized early control eventually coming away with the set.
Adamson claimed the first and third frames, capitalizing on UST’s defensive and service errors to take the advantage twice.
Nitura spearheaded the Lady Falcons’ charge in the opening set, while Mordi delivered three consecutive kills late in the third to put Adamson back in front.
UST, meanwhile, leaned on its net defense to take the second set, with Em Banagua and Unekwe shutting down Adamson’s attackers at the net.
Rubin and Poyos then provided the finishing touches, delivering timely kills to level the match at one set apiece.
Lady Falcons dominate individual awards
(C) V-League Images
Mordi and Poyos were later named the league’s Best Outside Spikers, capping off impressive campaigns for their respective teams.
The Adamson foreign student-athlete led all scorers during the preliminary round with 157 points, tallying 129 attacks at a 41.35 percent success rate, 14 blocks, and 14 service aces. Mordi also finished among the top 10 in reception with a 33.01 percent efficiency rate.
Poyos, on the other hand, ranked among the top 10 scorers with 84 points, including 72 attacks at a 37.50 percent success rate, three kill blocks, and nine service aces.
The Lady Falcons also showcased their depth across the roster, sweeping most of the individual awards.
Sagaysay claimed the Best Setter plum, while converted winger Tuddao was named Best Opposite Hitter.
Sagaysay finished the preliminary round with 145 excellent sets, averaging 4.83 per set played. Tuddao, meanwhile, tallied 76 points on 69 attacks at a 38.98 percent success rate, three blocks, and four service aces.
Middle blockers Eloi Dote and Dizon accounted for two more awards, sweeping the Best Middle Blocker citations.
Dote recorded 40 points, including 21 kill blocks, placing her among the tournament’s top three blockers. Dizon finished with 49 points on 25 attacks and 20 blocks.
University of the East captain Angge Reyes, meanwhile, finally secured a well-deserved Best Libero award after excelling in both floor defense and reception. She averaged 4.47 digs per set and registered an impressive 51.72 percent reception efficiency.
