Adamson Edges UST to Claim Share of Third Place in Final Four Race

Adamson University held its ground in the crucial stretch, outlasting University of Santo Tomas, 27-25, 25-20, 26-24, on Saturday evening at the FilOil Centre in San Juan to move into a tie for third place in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Women’s Volleyball Tournament Final Four race.

The Lady Falcons, led by Shaina Nitura and Nigerian spiker Frances Mordi, once again leaned on their offensive firepower, securing a key victory that boosted their postseason chances with just two games remaining in the elimination round. This win puts Adamson and UST in a tie with 7-5 records, ahead of Far Eastern University (6-5) and University of the Philippines (5-6) in the tight race.

Adamson now holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over UST after sweeping the Golden Tigresses in their preliminary encounters. With the win, the Lady Falcons have already surpassed their six-win output from last season and are seeking their first Final Four appearance since 2023.

“We thank the Lord for this win and for giving the courage and everything to the team,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude. “We knew UST would fight hard, especially since we beat them in straight sets in the first round. I kept reminding the players to keep going and never give up, because anything is possible if we stay focused.”

The Lady Falcons faced a tough challenge as UST looked poised to extend the match into a fourth set, leading 18-14 in the third. However, Adamson responded with a 6-2 run, capped by a block from Fhei Sagaysay on Angge Poyos and a Poyos attack error, to level the score at 20-all.

The two teams traded points until a Julia Balingit off-the-block attack tied the score again at 24-all. But Adamson finished strong, with Nitura delivering a crosscourt hit, followed by Eloi Dote’s game-winning block on Poyos’ attack to seal the victory.

The second set was similarly competitive, with UST tying it at 20-all thanks to a Poyos attack and an Avril Bron block. However, Adamson displayed composure under pressure, finishing the set with five unanswered points, capped by a Mordi ace and a Nitura kill through the block, to take a 2-0 lead.

“We’re very thankful because it was a team effort,” said Nitura, who played a key role with 19 points, 14 excellent receptions, and 10 excellent digs. “We help each other out, and whenever someone gets down, we lift them up so they don’t stay there.”

Mordi added 18 points, 11 excellent receptions, and five excellent digs, while Lhouiz Tuddao contributed eight points, including six attacks and two blocks. Sagaysay set the offense up with 21 excellent sets, adding seven points from three attacks, two blocks, and two aces.

Adamson now looks to further secure its Final Four bid when it faces UP on Wednesday, April 15, before concluding the elimination round against FEU on April 18, both at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Meanwhile, UST will aim to revive its Final Four hopes when it faces UP on Sunday, April 19, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. The Golden Tigresses played without head coach Shaq delos Santos, who was involved in Cignal’s semifinal match against Farm Fresh in the 2026 PVL All-Filipino Conference.

Poyos led UST with 15 points, 12 excellent receptions, and five excellent digs, while Reg Jurado added nine points and 11 excellent digs. Bron finished with eight points, while Jonna Perdido chipped in seven points and also contributed defensively with seven excellent digs and six excellent receptions. Setter Cassie Carballo provided 22 excellent sets, and team captain Detdet Pepito had 16 excellent digs and seven excellent receptions.