Mordi, Nitura strike as Adamson stuns UP

Frances Mordi and Shaina Nitura delivered the crucial hits at crunch time as Adamson University lived to fight another day with a masterful sweep of twice-to-beat University of the Philippines (UP), 25-20, 25-17, 26-24, in the 2026 Shakey’s Super League Unity Cup quarterfinals on Saturday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.

The veteran duo combined for 15 points in the third set while main setter Fhei Sagaysay returned from an ankle injury and orchestrated the Lady Falcons’ relentless assault in the one-hour, 30-minute victory.

Third-seeded Adamson will try to complete an upset of the higher-ranked Fighting Maroons in a sudden death for a semifinal seat in the league’s centerpiece competition on Sunday at the same Muntinlupa venue.

Mordi scored 15 points, 10 in the third set, on 12 kills, two kill blocks and an ace while Nitura finished with nine points on a 9-of-22 spiking clip for the Lady Falcons, who avenged their group stage loss to UP.

Sagaysay, back after a one-month recovery from a right ankle injury, tallied 12 excellent sets to help Adamson punch in 43 attack points.

Adamson encountered tough resistance from UP in a nip-and-tuck third set after cruising in the first two frames.

The Fighting Maroons flipped an 18-20 deficit to a 23-21 advantage after a Bienne Bansil hit from the middle. Mordi answered with back-to-back kills to knot the count at 23.

Kianne Olango put UP at set point, 23-24, but Nitura fired back with a crosscourt hit to extend the set.

Mordi hammered a crosscourt kill to bring Adamson to match point before Nitura finished off the Fighting Maroons with a sharp backrow attack, which slipped off UP’s defense as Lady Falcons faithful erupted in jubilation.

In the second game, Far Eastern University (FEU) bucked a second set hiccup to boot out Ateneo De Manila University, 25-18, 19-25, 25-15, 25-13, and book a Final Four berth.

The Lady Tamaraws quickly regrouped after the meltdown as the twice-to-beat second-seeded squad brought back the same sustained intensity they had in the opening frame to occupy a seat in the knockout semis.

FEU will face the quarterfinals winner between twice-to-beat University of Santo Tomas and College of Saint Benilde, still playing as of press time, in the Final Four on 21 November at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Cla Loresco led the Lady Tamaraws with 15 points on 10 kills, four kill blocks and an ace.