It was indeed a chosen generation for Adamson University’s women’s volleyball program, as the Lady Falcons captured the V-League Collegiate Challenge championship for the second straight season.

The Lady Falcons battled through adversity and overcame the stiff challenge of the University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses in four sets, 25–23, 23–25, 26–24, 25–15, in Game 2 of the best-of-three Finals on Friday at the FilOil Centre.

In a showdown between the league’s last two women’s champions, the defending titleholders delivered when it mattered most, pulling away in the fourth and final set.

Season MVP and eventual Finals MVP Frances Mordi extended Adamson’s lead to three, 11–8, with a service ace before Lhouriz Tuddao followed with back-to-back kills to give the Lady Falcons a 13–9 cushion.

Captain Shaina Nitura then joined the scoring spree, pushing Adamson’s advantage to seven at 18–11 with three consecutive points built on two kills and a service ace.

From there, the Lady Falcons never looked back, responding to UST’s attempts to mount a comeback to clinch the set, the match, and the championship.

“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,” said Adamson head coach JP Yude on how his championship-winning squad handled adversity.

“I’m grateful and blessed because on 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 followed up her impressive Game 1 performance with another 21-point outing, finishing with 18 attacks, two blocks, and one service ace.

“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,” said the Nigerian standout about how Adamson performed despite the absence of an injured teammate.

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

(C) V-League Images

Nitura also starred in the championship-clinching victory, matching Mordi’s 21-point output with 20 attacks and one service ace. Tuddao chipped in 10 points, while Janna Dizon contributed seven.

However, the championship triumph came at a cost, as the Lady Falcons lost starting setter Fhei Sagaysay to a right ankle injury in the opening set.

Bella Sapienza stepped up in her absence, recording 19 excellent sets as Adamson converted them into 62 attack points.

Zinny Unekwe led the Golden Tigresses with 12 points on seven attacks and five blocks, while Kim Rubin and Reg Jurado added 11 points apiece. Angge Poyos, meanwhile, was limited to just five points.

Strong starts proved crucial in the opening three sets, with the team that seized early control eventually coming away with the set.

Adamson claimed the first and third frames, capitalizing on UST’s defensive and service errors to take the advantage twice.

Nitura spearheaded the Lady Falcons’ charge in the opening set, while Mordi delivered three consecutive kills late in the third to put Adamson back in front.

UST, meanwhile, leaned on its net defense to take the second set, with Em Banagua and Unekwe shutting down Adamson’s attackers at the net.

Rubin and Poyos then provided the finishing touches, delivering timely kills to level the match at one set apiece.

Lady Falcons dominate individual awards

(C) V-League Images

Mordi and Poyos were later named the league’s Best Outside Spikers, capping off impressive campaigns for their respective teams.

The Adamson foreign student-athlete led all scorers during the preliminary round with 157 points, tallying 129 attacks at a 41.35 percent success rate, 14 blocks, and 14 service aces. Mordi also finished among the top 10 in reception with a 33.01 percent efficiency rate.

Poyos, on the other hand, ranked among the top 10 scorers with 84 points, including 72 attacks at a 37.50 percent success rate, three kill blocks, and nine service aces.

The Lady Falcons also showcased their depth across the roster, sweeping most of the individual awards.

Sagaysay claimed the Best Setter plum, while converted winger Tuddao was named Best Opposite Hitter.

Sagaysay finished the preliminary round with 145 excellent sets, averaging 4.83 per set played. Tuddao, meanwhile, tallied 76 points on 69 attacks at a 38.98 percent success rate, three blocks, and four service aces.

Middle blockers Eloi Dote and Dizon accounted for two more awards, sweeping the Best Middle Blocker citations.

Dote recorded 40 points, including 21 kill blocks, placing her among the tournament’s top three blockers. Dizon finished with 49 points on 25 attacks and 20 blocks.

University of the East captain Angge Reyes, meanwhile, finally secured a well-deserved Best Libero award after excelling in both floor defense and reception. She averaged 4.47 digs per set and registered an impressive 51.72 percent reception efficiency.

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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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