Tournament and Finals MVP Shaina Nitura leads the Adamson Lady Falcons to their third V-League title, sweeping the FEU Lady Tamaraws in straight sets during Game 3 of the Collegiate Challenge Finals.
Adamson University unleashed an unstoppable storm, demolishing Far Eastern University in a straight-set rout, 25-19, 25-19, 25-14, to claim the 2025 Women’s V-League Collegiate Challenge crown in emphatic fashion Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
After suffering a disappointing 13-25, 22-25, 25-15, 23-25 loss in Game 2 last Wednesday, the Lady Falcons regrouped with determination and stormed back to overpower the Lady Tamaraws, securing their fourth overall title in a Sports Vision-organized tournament.
This is Adamson’s third V-League title, having previously won in 2008 and 2010 under coach Dulce Pante with standouts Pau Soriano and Lizlee Gata-Pantone. They also captured the 2019 PVL Collegiate Conference crown with Lerma Giron calling the shots and Trisha Genesis and Louie Romero leading the way.
What was anticipated to be a tightly fought decider after the teams split the first two games turned into an anticlimactic finish, as the Lady Falcons’ relentless attacking display became the defining factor, overwhelming FEU with a 47-23 edge in attacks in the one-hour, 23-minute contest.
"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," said Adamson head coach JP Yude.
"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.
Tournament MVP Shaina Nitura stood at the center of the Lady Falcons’ onslaught, delivering 17 points alongside 13 digs and 10 receptions, and claimed Finals MVP honors after dominating the best-of-three series with an average of 23.33 points.
“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,” said Nitura.
Nigerian outside spiker Francess Mordi spearheaded the Adamson’s attack in Game 3 with 19 points—18 of which came from attaccks—while adding four excellent receptions, as Eloi Dote powered through with 11 points, including three aces.
Best Setter Fhei Sagaysay commanded the floor with precision, dishing out 23 perfect sets and adding three points and seven digs, keeping the Lady Falcons’ offense relentless from start to finish.
Adamson capped a dominant tournament run with an impressive 11-1 record, their lone loss coming at the hands of FEU in Game 2 of the Finals.
On the other hand, the Lady Tamaraws placed second for the third consecutive time, having lost to College of St. Benilde in 2023 and University of Sto. Tomas in 2024.
Jaz Ellarina shone as the lone bright spot for the Lady Tamaraws, who had battled back from a tough 18-25, 24-26, 25-23, 23-25 loss in the opener to force a decider, contributing 11 points on four attacks, four kill blocks, and three aces.
Gerzel Petallo and Kyle Pendon, the team’s leading scorers in the Finals, were held to just seven and one point, respectively, in the heartbreaking loss.