Adamson University appeared to be trending in the right direction after securing a bronze finish in the UAAP Season 85 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament, despite fielding a young roster.
However, offseason turmoil — sparked by the dismissal of head coach Jerry Yee — triggered a mass exodus of players that effectively reset the Lady Falcons’ progress. In an instant, the program went from rising to rebuilding.
Thrust into the fire was Adamson High School Girls’ Team head coach JP Yude, who took on the role of concurrent chief tactician for the collegiate squad in Season 86.
While the college team endured a forgettable 3-11 campaign, the high school squad enjoyed a historic run, completing a season sweep behind Shaina Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay en route to their first-ever title in the division.
That triumph at the high school level soon translated into renewed hope for the collegiate program, as Nitura and Sagaysay made the jump to the senior ranks.
In Season 87, Nitura burst onto the collegiate scene, capturing Rookie of the Year honors while rewriting multiple UAAP records and steering Adamson to an encouraging 6-8 finish, good for fifth place.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Now, the Lady Falcons have finally returned to the Final Four after a resolute 25-20, 25-22, 25-23 victory over Far Eastern University on Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, capping the Season 88 elimination round with a 9-5 record.
“For me, sabi ko sa kanila na mangarap tayo na mag-champion nang sabay-sabay. Pag nag-champion tayo sa girls, by God’s will, kaya namin dalhin papuntang college,” said Yude on his strong connection with Nitura and Sagaysay from high school to college.
“Yun talaga yung gusto naming mangyari. Pero siyempre, gusto namin mangyari ‘yon pero kailangan syempre paghirapan namin every time,” continued the third-year head coach.
But returning to the semifinals is not the ultimate goal — it is only the first step toward a bigger dream.
Adamson joins De La Salle University and National University in the Final Four, with University of Santo Tomas and FEU still battling for the last semifinal berth.
The Lady Spikers, meanwhile, are aiming for an elimination round sweep and an outright Finals berth on Sunday against the Lady Bulldog, a result that would trigger a stepladder semifinal format.
“We thank the Lord na paunti-unti, nandito na kami. Pero siyempre, we don’t stop here. Kailangan namin trabahuin every time and then always trust in the Lord, kasi the right timing of the Lord is perfect,” Yude concluded.
