UST Falls as Adamson Completes V-League Repeat

Adamson University defeated UST in four sets Friday to capture its second consecutive V-League Collegiate Challenge women’s championship. Frances Mordi and Shaina Nitura scored 21 points apiece as the Lady Falcons overcame an early injury setback.

Adamson Finishes UST Behind Dominant Fourth Set

Adamson completed its championship repeat with a 25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 25-15 victory in Game 2 of the best-of-three Finals. Aeron Paul Valderrama of Tiebreaker Times chronicled the Lady Falcons’ triumph at the FilOil Centre in San Juan.

Mordi’s fourth-set service ace established an 11-8 advantage before consecutive Lhouriz Tuddao kills extended Adamson’s lead to 13-9. Captain Shaina Nitura followed with three straight points, including two attacks and an ace, stretching the margin to 18-11.

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Lady Falcons Respond to Championship Pressure

Adamson coach JP Yude praised his players’ response after losing their starting setter during the championship match. The Lady Falcons recovered from dropping the second set and secured the decisive third frame before dominating the fourth.

“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,” Yude said.

“I’m grateful and blessed because of 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 and Nitura Deliver 42 Combined Points

Mordi produced 21 points from 18 attacks, two blocks, and one service ace in the championship-clinching victory. Nitura matched her teammate’s output with 20 attacks and an ace, giving Adamson two productive scoring leaders.

Their combined 42 points anchored Adamson’s offense throughout the four-set championship match against the Golden Tigresses. Tuddao contributed another 10 points, while Janna Dizon finished with seven as the Lady Falcons secured the title.

Mordi Embraces Adamson’s Collective Approach

Mordi credited Adamson’s collective effort after the team continued competing without its injured starting setter during the Finals. She emphasized that the Lady Falcons trusted their teammates and coaches while adjusting to the unexpected lineup change.

“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,” Mordi said.

“We can play without her, but with her, we are stronger. It’s a win-win for everyone,” Mordi added.

Sagaysay Injury Forces Adamson Setter Change

Adamson lost starting setter Fhei Sagaysay to a right ankle injury during the opening set against UST. Bella Sapienza assumed the setting responsibilities and recorded 19 excellent sets during the Lady Falcons’ championship-clinching performance.

Despite the early substitution, Adamson finished with 62 attack points while defeating the Golden Tigresses in four sets. Sapienza’s contribution supported the team’s scoring leaders as Adamson completed its second consecutive V-League Collegiate Challenge championship.

Sapienza Delivers 19 Excellent Sets After Injury

Sapienza’s 19 excellent sets provided a measurable contribution after Sagaysay exited the championship match with an ankle injury. Adamson subsequently produced 62 attack points, including 38 combined successful attacks from Mordi and Nitura during Game 2.

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UST Challenges Adamson Before Fourth-Set Breakaway

UST responded to its opening-set defeat by winning the second frame, 25-23, behind effective blocking and timely attacks. Em Banagua and Zinny Unekwe contributed at the net before Kim Rubin and Angge Poyos supplied important finishing points.

Adamson regained the advantage in the third set, with Mordi delivering three consecutive late kills during the closing stretch. The Lady Falcons secured that frame, 26-24, before completing their championship victory with a convincing 25-15 fourth set.

Unekwe Leads Golden Tigresses With 12 Points

Zinny Unekwe paced UST with 12 points, collecting seven attacks and five blocks during the championship defeat. Kim Rubin and Reg Jurado contributed 11 points each, while Angge Poyos finished with five against Adamson.

Mordi Leads Adamson’s Individual Awards Haul

Mordi completed her championship campaign with Finals MVP honors after also receiving the tournament’s Season MVP award. She shared the Best Outside Spiker recognition with UST’s Poyos, adding another distinction to her successful collegiate campaign.

The Adamson standout led preliminary-round scoring with 157 points, including 129 attacks, 14 blocks, and 14 service aces. Her 41.35-percent attacking success rate accompanied a 33.01-percent reception efficiency, placing her among the tournament’s leading receivers.

Lady Falcons Show Depth Across Award Categories

Adamson collected additional positional awards through Sagaysay, Tuddao, Eloi Dote, and Dizon, while UE’s Angge Reyes earned Best Libero.

• Fhei Sagaysay — Best Setter: Recorded 145 excellent sets during the preliminary round, averaging 4.83 excellent sets per set played.
• Lhouriz Tuddao — Best Opposite Hitter: Finished with 76 points, including 69 attacks at a 38.98-percent success rate, three blocks, and four aces.
• Eloi Dote — Best Middle Blocker: Registered 40 points during preliminary competition, including 21 kill blocks.
• Janna Dizon — Best Middle Blocker: Produced 49 points from 25 attacks, 20 blocks, and four service aces.
• Angge Reyes — Best Libero: The University of the East captain averaged 4.47 digs per set with 51.72-percent reception efficiency.

Analytical Breakdown: The Bench was Ready

Adamson’s championship depth became decisive after Sagaysay’s injury forced an unexpected setter change during a high-pressure title match. Sapienza maintained enough offensive stability for Mordi and Nitura to combine for 42 points without disrupting Adamson’s attacking rhythm. Back-to-back championships reflect reliable roster construction, especially when secondary players can absorb major responsibilities without weakening the overall system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge women’s title?

Adamson defeated UST in Game 2 to secure its second consecutive V-League Collegiate Challenge women’s championship.

What was the Adamson versus UST Game 2 score?

Adamson won 25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 25-15 to close the best-of-three championship series against the Golden Tigresses.

Who won the V-League Finals MVP award?

Frances Mordi earned Finals MVP after scoring 21 points in Adamson’s championship-clinching victory over UST.

How many points did Shaina Nitura score?

Nitura produced 21 points from 20 attacks and one service ace, matching Mordi’s championship-clinching scoring output.

What happened to Fhei Sagaysay?

Sagaysay suffered a right ankle injury during the opening set, forcing Bella Sapienza to assume Adamson’s setting responsibilities.

Disclaimer: Headline Image from Tiebreaker Times.