Written by Akari Sports | Photo from The UAAP
ADAMSON plays University of Santo Tomas as it tries to move up the ladder as the chase for the remaining UAAP women’s volleyball Finals berth begins Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The third-ranked Lady Falcons may have beaten the No. 4 Tigresses twice, all in straight-set fashion, in the eliminations, but the 3 p.m. clash is a different story, as the loser will end their journey this season.
The UST-Adamson winner will take on defending two-time champion National University in the final stage of the step-ladder at 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Big Dome.
La Salle jumped straight to the best-of-three championship after completing a 14-0 sweep of the eliminations and will only see action on May 6 after a two-week break.
The showdown will feature the league’s top two scorers in the Lady Falcons’ Shai Nitura and the Tigresses’ Angge Poyos.
After carrying the burden last season, Nitura got the needed support from Nigeria’s Frances Mordi and Joy Aseo, plus the steady connection with setter Fhei Sagaysay, which keyed Adamson’s first Final Four stint since placing third in 2023.
“Siguro for me sa ganitong sitwasyon, I am always relying lang on the plans of the Lord.
Trabahuin ko lang talaga at every time. I don’t want na ganito na ito gagawin namin at sa ganitong taon, maging ganito tayo. I don’t do that. Every day, I always rely on the Lord every day sa kung saan niya kami dadalhin sa trinatrabaho namin every time. After three years, we worked it out. The Lord brought us here, pero I know God has something better and bigger plans,” Lady Falcons coach JP Yude said.
Although it swept the eliminations head-to-head with UST, the close second-round result, 27-25, 25-20, 26-24, reminded Adamson of the need to elevate its level of play as it presses its bid to go deeper this season.
“Kailangan lang talaga na we respond properly in every situation kasi our character doon nabu-build at yung attitude namin. I am very blessed that the Lord has given us this opportunity. Every time, ‘yon lang talaga yung goal namin at goal ko talaga ay hindi ako nagpapaplano agad nang sobra-sobra. I always rely on the plans of the Lord,” Yude said.
Captain Nitura, who teamed up with Sagaysay in the San Marcelino-based high school girls program’s breakthrough Season 86 title in 2024, knows that it entails more than hard work to get the job done at the college level.
“For me syempre, nandito na kami. Pinasok na namin itong mundo ng Final Four, kaya for sure mas papahirapan kami kasi best of the best na ito ng mga UAAP teams. I think it’s gonna be harder for us, pero hindi kami magba-back down sa pinasok namin. We’re just gonna keep going, do our hard work, do everything that we can, and kung ano ‘man abutin niyan, we just have to respond to that kung saan kami aabot,” Nitura said.
Once they hurdled the first of two stumbling blocks to reach the Finals, the Lady Falcons will face the Lady Bulldogs, whom they have not yet beaten this season, all via shutouts.
