The Adamson University puts on a clinic against the Far Eastern University in Game 3 Finals to claim the 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge today, October 10 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre, San Juan City.
MVP-esque Performance from Shaina Nitura to Sweep the Match
After losing in Game 2 last October 8, the tournament MVP of 2025 V-League Collegiate Challenge, Shaina Nitura, performed at the elite level for her Lady Falcons to not only win the championship but also take the 3-0 match sweep in Game 3 Finals.
What was expected to be a closely contested decider turned into a one-sided affair as the Lady Falcons dominated every aspect of the game.
Their fast-paced offense and solid floor coverage gave them a commanding 47-23 advantage in attacks during the one-hour and 23-minute encounter, leaving the Lady Tamaraws struggling to keep up.
With their game plan executed to perfection, Adamson stormed through each frame behind consistent attacking and strong service pressure.
FINAL SCORES = Set 1: 25-19, Set 2: 25-19, Set 3: 25-14
Nigerian Foreign Student Athlete, Francess Mordi led the frontline assault with 19 points which included 18 from attacks then also contributed four receptions. Eloi Dote provided key support with 11 points, three of which came from aces, helping sustain Adamson’s momentum.
The 20 year old Shaina Nitura anchored the Lady Falcons’ all-around brilliance, delivering 17 points, 13 digs, and 10 receptions in the title-clinching match.
Her outstanding effort throughout the Finals earned her the Finals MVP award, averaging an impressive 23.33 points per game across the series.
Best Setter Fhei Sagaysay also played a crucial role in orchestrating Adamson’s offense, tallying 23 excellent sets, alongside three points and seven digs, ensuring the Lady Falcons’ attack remained sharp from start to finish.
Adamson capped its stellar campaign with an 11-1 record, with their only defeat coming in Game 2 of the Finals, signifying their consistency and dominance throughout the tournament.
3rd Straight Silver for the Lady Tamaraws
For the side of Far Eastern University, the loss marked another runner-up finish which is their third straight silver in the Collegiate Challenge after falling to College of St. Benilde in 2023 and University of Santo Tomas in 2024.
Team captain Jaz Ellarina stood out as the lone spark in FEU’s lineup, finishing with 11 points built on four attacks, four blocks, and three aces. Despite her efforts, the Lady Tamaraws could not match Adamson’s offensive rhythm.
Meanwhile, Finals standouts Gerzel Petallo and Kyle Pendon, who had carried much of FEU’s scoring load in previous games, were limited to just seven and one point, respectively, in the deciding match.
A Milestone for the Lady Falcons
The victory added another chapter to Adamson University’s proud volleyball history. It was the school’s third V-League crown, following championships in 2008 and 2010 under coach Dulce Pante, with stars Pau Soriano and Lizlee Gata-Pantone leading those earlier triumphs.
The Lady Falcons also reigned in the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference, guided by coach Lerma Giron and powered by Trisha Genesis and Louie Romero.
This is ADU’s fourth championship overall in a Sports Vision-organized event.
Head coach JP Yude credited the team’s focus and discipline for the turnaround after their Game 2 setback.
“First of all, we praise God for the win because sa mga hectic ng games the Lord sustained ‘yung strength ng mga bata so siguro the first thing na nangyari na kinaibahan ng Game 2 is una pa lang they stuck to the plan. ‘Yung pinag usapan namin kagabi, ‘yung inaral namin kagabi, they stuck to it,”
“Then may joy sila, naka-focus and may happiness sila. ‘Yun lang, ‘yun ‘yung kulang namin nung Game 2 eh, ‘yung application na gussto namin mag-champion that time pero ‘yung application kulang sa loob ng court. Gumana talaga lahat ng pinagaralan namin kagabi,” Yude added.
Meanwhile, Nitura expressed gratitude and credited the team’s growth from adversity as she claimed 2 MVP trophies in a single tournament.
“Una po talaga, thank you Lord. Kasi grabe po yung mga learnings na pinapadaan sa amin ni Lord—as a team talaga, talagang pinapatibay Niya kami. And I’m very grateful talaga sa talo namin kasi I don’t think na may matutunan kami kung nanalo kami doon,”
With a new generation of standouts led by Nitura, Mordi, and Sagaysay, the Lady Falcons once again proved their mettle with now reclaiming the Collegiate Challenge title in commanding fashion and solidifying their place among the country’s top collegiate volleyball programs.
A Stronger Adamson in Season 88 and an even Scarier Nitura in Year 2
Last Season, Adamson University missed the Final Four after only settling for a 6-8 win-loss record. This performance gave them the 5th seed.
Despite missing the playoffs, Shaina Nitura shattered way too many UAAP records in her 1st year in the collegiate league. From her debut game until her last regular season game, “Super Shai” definitely was the clear winner for the Rookie of the Year award.
But with all of these latest achievements and team development, it appears that the Lady Falcons are an assured squad come playoff time, while the rest of the UAAP schools should watch out for Nitura as she enters Year 2.
