Shaina Nitura returned to the starting lineup, and Adamson University did not miss a beat. The Lady Falcons swept the University of the East, 25–21, 25–17, 25–20, on Saturday, October 3, at the FilOil Centre to reach the 2026 V-League Collegiate Challenge Finals.

The defending champions are one step away from a second straight crown. They will face UAAP rival University of Santo Tomas in the best-of-three Finals, which opens Wednesday, Oct. 7, at the same San Juan venue.

Nitura, the captain and an Alas upstart, nearly produced a triple-double in her first full match back in Adamson white. She finished with 13 attacks, nine excellent receptions and 15 digs.

Shaina Nitura Returns as Adamson Sweeps UE in V-League Semifinals

Adamson shook off a sluggish start in the opener before Fhei Sagaysay found Frances Mordi for consecutive back-row kills. Those gave the Lady Falcons a 22–21 lead. A Princess Dote block and a Lady Warriors attack error then handed Adamson set point.

Janna Dizon promptly converted with a service ace to close the first set. Buoyed by that escape, Adamson zoomed to a 13–8 lead in the second as Nitura and Lhouriz Tuddao found the lines with strong hits.

Van Bangayan and Bea Zamudio tried to pull UE back into the frame, but Nitura delivered the finishing blows for a 2–0 advantage. That set the stage for the sweep.

The defending champions leaned on defense at the net and on the floor to erase deficits in the third. Mordi delivered a kill in transition, and Adamson’s pressure forced Keisha Famulagan into a reaching-over-the-net violation for a 22–19 lead.

Nitura, Mordi and JP Yude Eye Second Straight V-League Title

Mordi once again led Adamson’s offense with 14 points, all coming from attacks. Tuddao added 12 points for the Lady Falcons.

Nitura was even prouder of what her teammates accomplished while she watched from the sidelines. She said of the team’s collective effort:

“Happy ako kasi collectively binubuhat talaga nila ‘yung team. Bawat posisyon may ginagawa talaga and gusto talaga nilang manalo. Nagbubunga na rin ‘yung investment namin sa sarili namin: ‘yung pagod, ‘yung iyak, ‘yung hirap sa mga past tournaments namin.”

Head coach JP Yude, who also leads the high school girls’ team, wants to see more of the team’s character against UST. He pointed to how the players apply their training and how they respond to pressure.

“One thing is talagang ‘yung application ng aming mga ginagawa sa training, on how we study the opponents and on how we apply it during the game. And then, ‘yung response talaga during pressure moments,” Yude shared.

“I know the capabilities of my players, pero sa mga pressure and bad situations, do’n talaga masusukat ‘yung character nila. Yun talaga ‘yung gusto ko pang ma-develop sa kanila,” Yude added.

No Lady Warrior finished in double figures, with Edcynth Brago a point shy at nine. Zamudio added eight points and Bangayan six. The Lady Warriors will face the Arellano University Lady Chiefs in the bronze medal match, also on Wednesday.