Shaina Nitura and Frances Mordi led Adamson University as the Lady Falcons stunned the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses, 27-25, 25-22, 25-12, to claim a share of fourth place in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.
With the win, Adamson tied the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws for fourth at 3-2, while the Golden Tigresses fell to 2-3.
“Lahat naman sila ay nag-contribute and sabi ko lang, follow the instructions so that hindi kami magkakaiba ng sistema,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude.
“Ang instruction ko lang sa kanila nung nakuha namin yung dalawang set is to be more locked in,” the former Soaring Falcon added.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
After grinding out the first two sets to take a 2-0 lead, the Lady Falcons didn’t need any dramatic comebacks in the third set.
Adamson dominated from the start, as Nitura, Mordi, Joy Aseo, Fhei Sagaysay, and Lhouiz Tuddao combined to build a commanding 20-6 lead, cruising to a one-hour, 21-minute victory.
In the second set, Adamson had to battle down the stretch with the score tied at 22.
Nitura sparked the finishing sequence with an off-the-block kill, Tuddao followed with another for the set point, and Nitura sealed it by blocking Xyza Gula at the net for a 2-0 lead.
“We never expect anything sa game but to try to win and play to win. This is the result of what we did. Thank you, Lord; we’ve been working for this. Talagang tinatiyaga namin every training,” said Nitura, who finished with 22 points on 19 spikes and three blocks, along with six excellent receptions.
Mordi added 20 points on 18-of-30 attacks, plus a block, an ace, and 10 excellent receptions.
Aseo, making her first start of the season, impressed with six points—including three service aces—matching Tuddao’s output.
Sagaysay contributed 12 excellent sets and five of the Lady Falcons’ 10 aces, a huge edge over UST’s two.
(C) UAAP Season 86 Media Team
Both teams return to action on Wednesday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena: Adamson faces undefeated De La Salle University at 1 p.m., while UST meets University of the Philippines at 3 p.m.
Regina Jurado led UST with 18 points on an efficient 17-of-28 attack, while Avril Bron added 10.
Angge Poyos, who had scored double digits in the first four games, was limited to just five points on 5-of-24 spikes.
