The Final Four of V-League 2025 Collegiate Challenge is slowly getting complete, with the #1 and #4 slots locked in after the games last September 7, Sunday.
Samatha Tiratira Pushes the Lady Chiefs to the 4th Seed
Arellano University and the Colegio De San Juan De Letrán square off at Paco Arena Events and Sports Center in hopes of making it to the Final Four.
Both squads entered the contest weary from five-set marathons the day before, but the Lady Chiefs looked fresher out of the gate. They dominated the opening frame with Laika Tudlasan and Sam Tiratira spearheading the charge.
Arellano, however, faltered in the second set. A string of untimely miscues allowed the Lady Knights to capitalize and steal the frame, leveling the match at one set apiece.
The third set saw momentum swing back and forth until the score knotted at 16-all. That’s when the Lady Chiefs struck decisively, mounting a 6-2 run anchored by Crisanta Servidad and Tudlasan. The timely surge created a cushion that proved enough to secure the set and reclaim the advantage.
Arellano appeared headed for a straightforward finish in Set 4 after establishing a 24-20 lead through quick strikes from Fhaye Mangubat and Tiratira, plus a Letran attack error. But the Lady Knights refused to fold, stringing together four straight points to tie the game at 24-all.
With the match hanging in the balance, Tiratira rose to the occasion.
She delivered a quick hit for match point before sealing the victory with a game-clinching block on Judiel Nitura, closing the two-hour encounter in dramatic fashion.
FINAL SCORES = Set 1: 25-14, Set 2: 25-23, Set 3: 25-22, Set 4: 26-24
Tudlasan topped the scoring with 19 points built on 18 attacks, while Tiratira tallied 16 points from 12 kills and four blocks. Servidad chipped in 13 points and 10 digs, while Heart Villaflores added 10 markers.
Setter Catherine Domasig orchestrated the offense with 27 excellent sets and contributed five points, while libero Harem Ceballos anchored the back row with 25 receptions and 17 digs.
“Masaya kami dahil tinalo namin yung Letran kasi contender yan sa NCAA ‘eh. Sabi ko sa players ko nasa kanila yan kung ano gusto natin mangyari sa game natin — kung gusto ba natin mag-extend season natin. Lahat ng ito, dahil sa players namin ito,” Lady Chiefs Head Coach Obet Javier said.
Nitura once again led the Lady Knights with 22 points on 19 kills, two blocks, and an ace, while Vanessa Sarie chipped in 15 points and 12 digs in the losing cause.
The win lifted Arellano to a 3-3 record, good for solo fourth place in the eight-team standings and keeping their Final Four hopes alive.
After a two-week break to give way to the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship, the Lady Chiefs face College of Saint Benilde on October 1 in a crucial clash at the Playtime Filoil Center.
Letran, meanwhile, ended its elimination round campaign at 3-4, leaving its semifinal fate dependent on the outcomes of other matches.
Shaina Nitura Spearheaded the Lady Falcons for an Unblemished Elimination Record
With already a guaranteed #1 seed at the Final Four, the Adamson University still wishes to end the elimination round without a loss as they take on the Ateneo de Manila University.
Ateneo showed fight early in the first set, pushing Adamson in several tight exchanges before the Lady Falcons eked out a Set 1 win. The defending side’s composure proved crucial as late attacks from Shaina Nitura steadied the frame.
By the second set, Adamson began asserting full control. Riding a 9-2 scoring run, they transformed a slim 14-13 lead into a commanding 23-15 cushion before finishing off the Blue Eagles in Set 2.
Momentum firmly in their hands, the Lady Falcons unleashed a storm in the third frame, racing to a 16-5 advantage behind Nitura’s aces, Frances Mordi’s off-the-block power, and MG Del Moral’s quick hits.
Errors from Ateneo skipper Taks Fujimoto opened the door for Adamson to close the match, punctuated by Nitura’s back-to-back missiles for a Set 3 clincher.
FINAL SCORE = Set 1: 25-22, Set 2: 25-17, Set 3: 25-11
Alas Pilipinas standout Shaina Nitura spearheaded Adamson’s sweep with a brilliant all-around effort of 24 points on 21 attacks, while also tallying nine digs and nine receptions. Foreign Student Athlete Frances Mordi added 14 points alongside steady floor coverage, while rookie Abby Segui chipped in with eight markers.
Setter Fhei Sagaysay orchestrated the offense with 22 excellent sets and five points of her own, while libero Juris Manuel provided stability on defense with nine digs and nine receptions. Lhouriz Tuddao and Del Moral also stepped up in complementary roles.
“Yung teamwork talaga yung naging difference — on how they play as one. May mga lapses pa rin during the situation na may pressure and tough times, pero lagi ko rineremind na always need mag-respond in every situation kasi the more na nandoon tayo sa tough times, the more that we’ll stick together,” said Lady Falcons head coach JP Yude.
For Ateneo, the loss came a day after a grueling five-set defeat to Letran, effectively ending their semifinal hopes. The Blue Eagles slipped to 1-5 in the standings with just one game left in their campaign.
Zey Pacia was the lone bright spot, scoring 10 points on top of six receptions.
The Katipunan-based squad will attempt to close on a high note when they face FEU Lady Tamaraws on Wednesday, September 10, at the same venue.
