The bronze medal match of the 2025 Shakey’s Pre-Season Unity Cup between Far Eastern University and Adamson University took place on November 15, 2025, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Veteran Leadership for Jaz Ellarina as FEU Takes the Bronze
The FEU Lady Tamaraws opened the match strong, using their veteran presence to take charge early and clinch the tightly contested first set against a determined Adamson squad.
However, FEU lost its rhythm in the second frame after deploying its second stringers as part of the tournament’s all-to-play format.
The younger lineup struggled to match the pace set earlier by the starters, allowing the Lady Falcons to seize momentum and dominate the set.
With their morale dipping following the setback, the Lady Tamaraws regrouped behind their senior players to put the match back on track.
The decision to return to the veterans paid immediate dividends. FEU regained its composure in the third set, relying on the consistent scoring of Faida Bakanke, Alyzza Devosora, and Jazzlyn Elarina. Bakanke delivered all of her output through clean kills, while setter Tin Ubaldo kept the offense flowing smoothly with 21 excellent sets, enabling FEU to generate 48 attack points.
The fourth set proved tense as Adamson mounted a late surge, trimming FEU’s lead to just one at 20-19 after a kill from Frances Mordi.
But Cla Loresco stepped up for the Lady Tamaraws with a crucial block that ignited a quick 3-0 run, capped by a Bakanke hit. Adamson then suffered a rotational fault, briefly halting their momentum, until Shaina Nitura responded with a kill to keep the Lady Falcons within reach. Still, the match slipped away after Adamson committed consecutive errors, sealing FEU’s victory in the two-hour, nine-minute battle.
FINAL SCORES = Set 1: 25-22, Set 2: 25-17, Set 3: 25-19, Set 4: 25-20
Foreign Student Athlete Bakanke, as well as locals, Divosora and Ellarina, each finished with 12 points.
Throughout the contest, FEU leaned heavily on its experienced roster to stabilize the team whenever pressure mounted.
Gerz Petallo, who tallied five of her eight points in the opening set, emphasized how they needed to mentally recover after the second frame collapse, stating:
“Pinag-usapan namin na kailangan naming ibalik yung sa first set na na-feel namin. Kailangan namin itong bawiin ang momentum kasi sa second set bumaba talaga ang morale. So, ang ginawa namin since marami kaming seniors, naging mentality namin na hindi dapat ganun ang mga next sets namin.”
Despite claiming bronze for the third straight year, FEU regarded the result as a meaningful achievement heading into the new collegiate season.
Petallo expressed how important the finish was for team morale, saying:
“Sobrang laki nito sa amin, although bronze pa rin kami, na-defend namin ‘yung bronze. At least di kami naging zero. Sobrang laking bagay ito papuntang UAAP para sa morale ng team.”
The Lady Tamaraws’ campaign in the SSL capped off a productive preseason stretch, which also included a successful run in the National Invitational Batangas Leg.
Another Missed Opportunity for the Lady Falcons
After missing the Final Four in UAAP Season 87, where they finished as the fifth seed, the Lady Falcons continued to struggle to secure another elusive victory, once again missing the podium in this tournament.
For Adamson, Shakey’s Super League ambassador Shaina Nitura stood out with 18 points built on 13 kills, three blocks, and two aces.
Yet the Lady Falcons’ 31 unforced errors proved costly, particularly in the deciding moments. Mordi added 13 points, while Lhouriz Tuddao finished with 8.
Meanwhile, Adamson came into the tournament as the winners of the National Invitationals Cebu Leg, proving their capability to challenge top-tier opponents despite falling short in this match.
Future of FEU and ADU in Season 88? Possible Final Four Appearance
Looking ahead to UAAP Season 88 in 2026, this bronze-medal victory could serve as a crucial confidence booster for FEU.
Their ability to recover from momentum swings, rely on veteran leadership, and execute under pressure highlights a maturing squad ready to contend in a highly competitive field.
Gerz Petallo, Jaz Ellarina, and Alyzz Devosora could be the key pieces for FEU in finding the new star players of the team and having them as the main point of the team’s offense.
Or this performance from them could just be a fluke and would all disappear come 2026.
Meanwhile, for Adamson, the match exposed areas they must address, which were particularly limiting costly errors, but also reinforced that they possess offensive firepower to push stronger teams deep into matches.
Year 2, Shaina Nitura can take the Lady Falcons into new heights and may now transfer her personal achievements into more group accomplishments.
Or the rest of the UAAP teams could just shut her down, as they have scouted her offensive game well in her sophomore year.
In the end, both squads showed promise in the 2025 Shakey’s Pre-Season Unity Cup. This encounter could foreshadow tighter, more intense clashes between these two universities once the UAAP season arrives.
