Adamson University moved a step closer to defending its title after sweeping the University of Santo Tomas, 25–23, 25–17, 25–17, to clinch a semifinals berth in the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge on Sunday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

The defending champions needed just an hour and 28 minutes to subdue the Golden Tigresses and claim a share of the top spot at 5–1 with Arellano University, their only tormentor so far in the tournament.

Adamson leaned on its activity at the net, with Joy Aseo reading UST’s offense to perfection and denying Em Banagua and Ashley Knop in the third set.

That defensive wall eventually forced the Tigresses to second-guess their attacks, leading to errors that allowed the Lady Falcons to stretch their lead to double digits.

“We were eager talaga, especially yung mga bata, because of that loss (to Arellano). Siyempre, kung ano yung babaunin namin sa next games. I’m very happy and grateful on how my players responded properly sa training and sa game today,” said head coach JP Yude.

Aseo starred with 19 points after coming off the bench in the opening set, scoring 16 points on attacks and three on kill blocks, including two in the final frame.

Fellow wingers Lhouriz Tuddao and Frances Modri added 12 and 10 points, respectively, while Fhei Sagaysay tallied 14 excellent sets and two points.

Angge Poyos was the lone Tigress to finish in double figures with 13 points, while Reg Jurado was limited to eight.

(C) V-League Images

Adamson will wrap up its preliminary-round campaign against San Beda University (3–3) on Sunday, September 27, at noon, with the Lady Red Spikers needing a win to secure a spot in the semifinals.

San Beda kept its semifinals hopes alive earlier in the day by pulling off a rousing sweep of previously unbeaten Arellano,  25-20, 25-11, 20-25, 25–23.

The Lady Red Spikers improved to 3–3 after controlling most of the contest, although the Lady Chiefs threatened to extend the match in the third and final set.

Head coach Benjamin Mape credited the team’s growing confidence following its first win over rivals Colegio de San Juan de Letran, which carried over into the crucial victory against the semifinals-bound Arellano side.

“Importante kasi dito is yung communication and yung self-confidence, which is na-develop naman. At saka yung problem solving: every situation kasi we solve the problem within,” said Mape, who once again took the reins from head coach Kungfu Reyes.

(C) V-League Images

Senior wing spiker Angel Habacon paced San Beda with 21 points built on 18 attacks, one block, and two service aces. The seasoned spiker nearly posted a triple-double, adding 10 digs and nine excellent receptions.

Janelle Bachar started the game on fire and finished with 19 points to backstop Habacon, while setter Jan Rose Bulak was solid at the service line, drilling seven aces to go with 12 excellent sets.

Cris Servidad led Arellano with 16 points, while Heart Villaflores and Catherine Chu added 11 markers apiece.

The Lady Chiefs suffered their first loss of the tournament but remained at 5–1, tied with Adamson at the top of the standings.

Arellano will look to bounce back against the University of the East on Saturday, September 27, at 10 a.m.

Meanwhile, UST dropped to 3–3 and will face De La Salle College of Saint Benilde (2–4) in a potential do-or-die battle for the final semifinals spot earlier on September 27 at 10 a.m.

With Adamson, Arellano, and San Beda all still in the semifinals picture, the final weekend of the preliminary round is set to determine the last spots in the Final Four.

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A stacked field awaits as the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge begins on Saturday.

Defending UAAP champion National University, reigning NCAA champion College of Saint Benilde, and last year’s V-League champion Far Eastern University headline the men’s field in the tournament, which will be held every weekend at the newly constructed Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.

For the past 22 years, the tournament has served as an early test for varsity squads preparing for their respective collegiate tournaments.

Also competing in the men’s field are the University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Mapua University, and Arellano University.

(C) V-League Images

Meanwhile, the women’s tournament is bannered by UAAP semifinalists UST Golden Tigresses and the Adamson University Lady Falcons, along with NCAA champion Letran Lady Knights and runners-up CSB Lady Blazers.

Completing the women’s cast are the University of the East Lady Warriors, Perpetual Help Lady Altas, San Beda Lady Red Spikers, and Arellano Lady Chiefs.

The preliminary round will see all teams compete in a round-robin format, with two men’s games and two women’s games played on every playdate.

The top four teams in each division will advance to the best-of-three semifinals, with the top seed facing the fourth-ranked team while the second- and third-placed squads square off.

The finals will also be a best-of-three series, while the battle for bronze will be decided in a winner-take-all match.

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UNIVERSITY of the Philippines showed no signs of rust after manhandling Adamson, 69-53, on Wednesday in the 19th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive in San Juan.

Rey Remogat erupted for 11 of his 14 points in the Fighting Maroons’ decisive 22-point fourth-quarter surge, turning a tightly contested 47-43 game into a commanding 68-51 lead with a minute remaining.

He also tallied seven assists and three rebounds as State U secured its fourth straight victory in its first game since returning from Canada.

“That’s not about just starting out well. Kailangan yung buong game, being able to be consistent, we have to work on that,” said coach Goldwin Monteverde.

Migs Palanca added a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench, while Veejay Pre scored five of his nine points during UP’s strong opening stretch.

The victory also completed the UAAP Group’s quarterfinal cast for the crossover playoffs of the tournament, which is backed by Hanes, Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things, Wallem, BDO, Akari, Smart, Molten, Reyes Barbecue, Nature’s Spring, Tela.com Athletics, Brothers Burger, and Don Benito’s.

National U (4-1), La Salle (4-1), and University of Santo Tomas (3-3) had already secured their playoff berths.

Ray Allen Torres paced the winless Soaring Falcons (0-4) with 18 points built on five three-pointers, while Matty Erolon added 15 points on four triples in the loss.

San Beda and Mapua also needed late-game heroics to boost their standings in the NCAA Group.

Jomel Puno came to the rescue for the Red Lions, completing an alley-oop play from Dominic Sarigumba with 1.0 seconds left to stun winless Arellano, 76-75.

“The last play was for Jomel,” admitted coach Yuri Escueta. “I have to give it to Dom, who gave an excellent pass to Jomel, and also Kai [Efron]’s backpick. Good execution in terms of the players.”

Puno finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and two assists as San Beda bounced back and improved to 6-1.

Bismarck Lina chipped in 11 points and six rebounds to help offset Aldous Torculas’ quiet three-point outing.

T-Mc Ongotan scored 22 points and added three steals in the loss as the Chiefs suffered another heartbreaking defeat to fall to 0-7.

Mapua also escaped with a narrow victory thanks to Marc Igliane, who converted a putback with 5.8 seconds remaining to lift the Cardinals past Emilio Aguinaldo College, 85-83.

Igliane posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds, providing solid support for MC Cuenco, who finished with 21 points and four boards.

“It was a designed play for Cyrus, but the good thing is that we had a very good shot by Marcus [Nitura] and then we got the offensive rebound, and that’s history,” said coach Chito Victolero, whose squad won its fourth straight game to improve to 5-1. “It’s an ugly win, but we’ll take it.”

Last game’s hero Yam Concepcion contributed 11 points and nine rebounds, while rookie Jamal Diaz added 13 points.

Jude Bagay led EAC (4-4) with 17 points as the Generals saw their three-game winning streak come to an end.

NCAA Group leader Jose Rizal University also returned to the win column with a 78-69 victory over cellar-dwelling San Sebastian.

Chris Hubilla once again starred for the Heavy Bombers, posting a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Allen Laurenaria led the starters with 13 points as JRU improved to 7-1.

Neil Castor’s 15 points were the lone bright spot for the struggling Golden Stags (0-7), while Matthew Acosta added 14 points and five rebounds.

The Scores:

First Game:
San Beda 76 – Puno 17, Lina 11, Jamora 8, Sarigumba 8, Bonzalida 7, Marcelo 6, Dabao 5, Efron 4, Torculas 3, Jalbuena 3, Etulle 2, Songcuya 2, Culdora 0, Ugaddan 0, Ri. Calimag 0.
Arellano 75 – Ongotan 22, Geronimo 10, Abiera 8, Valencia 7, Borromeo 7, Camay 7, Vinoya 6, Ladica 3, Flores 2, Manansala 2, Langit 1, Demetria 0, Buenaventura 0, De Leon 0.
Quarterscores: 29-24, 44-43, 60-59, 76-75.

Second Game:
Jose Rizal 78 – Hubilla 17, Laurenaria 13, Mangubat 11, Salvador 9, Palis 7, Eligado 6, Garupil 5, Duque 4, Panapanaan 2, Peñaverde 2, Masiglat 2, Herrera 0, Castillo 0, Mejia 0.
San Sebastian 69 – Castor 15, Acosta 14, Gabat 8, Ynot 6, Ricio 5, Gomez de Liaño 5, Segovia 5, Muktimar 4, Barroga 3, Bacani 2, Kitane 2, Salvo 0, Cuya 0, Suico 0.
Quarterscores: 21-18, 38-38, 63-53, 78-69.

Third Game:
Mapua 85 – Cuenco 21, Diaz 13, Igliane 13, Concepcion 11, S. Reyes 6, M. Nitura 5, Bernabe 4, L. Nitura 3, Sacro 3, F. Reyes 2, Callangan 2, Ryan 2, Timbol 0, Pascual 0, Liwanag 0.
Emilio Aguinaldo 83 – Bagay 17, M. Raymundo 16, Nunag 13, H. Raymundo 10, Shanoda 9, Oftana 6, Castillo 4, Bonus 4, Ochavo 2, Sealey 2.
Quarterscores: 15-18, 43-46, 60-67, 85-83.

Fourth Game:
UP 69 – Remogat 14, Palanca 12, Pre 9, Dimaculangan 9, Miles 7, Payosing 6, Bayla 5, Stevens 3, Alter 2, Briones 2, Yniguez 0, Poyos 0, Ogana 0.
ADU 53 – Torres 18, Erolon 15, Cruz-Dumont 6, Fransman 4, Artango 3, Precious 2, Obusan 2, Edding 2, Anabo 1, Tumaneng 0, Perez 0, Medina 0, Sajili 0, Montebon 0, Demisana 0.
Quarterscores: 22-16, 38-28, 47-43, 69-53.

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