Lady Falcons seal V-League title repeat
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 (UST) 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 Most Valuable Player (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 the players for how they responded in bad situations all the time. That is really what we want to accomplish every time. We lost our primary setter so things were a bit off, but I really thank the Lord for guiding our hearts so we could respond properly in 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.”
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 on 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.
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.