Nov 7, 2026
Adamson locks No. 3 seed in SSL quarterfinals
MANILA, Philippines — Adamson University bucked a slow start to defeat College of Saint Benilde, 26-24, 25-15, 25-21, and secure the No. 3 seed in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup on Saturday at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.
Main gunner Shaina Nitura returned from a three-game absence, providing leadership and stability as the Lady Falcons closed the Round of 8 on a winning note after dropping their first two assignments in Pool E.
Adamson rallied from an eight-point deficit in the opening set with a telling 11-2 run to gain control and steal the extended frame. The previous edition’s fourth-placed team then dictated the pace for the rest of the match to complete the 79-minute sweep.
The Lady Falcons will take on the twice-to-beat No. 2 seed from Pool F in the quarterfinals of the league’s centerpiece competition, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R&B Milk Tea, starting November 14.
Frances Mordi led Adamson with 11 points on nine kills, one kill block and one ace while Third Tuddao scored eight.
“Although it was a slow start, I remembered what coach was telling us before the game, that we should learn to adjust,” Mordi said.
“During the game, at the start, it was very slow but at the end we were able to adjust based on what coach told us,” she added. Nitura, who only played her second game in the tournament, came off the bench and scored six of her seven points on attacks for the Lady Falcons, who hosted a block party with 11 kill blocks.
Lana Barrera had seven points, Joy Aseo and Kim Rocha finished with six points each while Frisha Divinagracia got four of her five markers on kill blocks for Adamson.
The Lady Falcons fell into a 6-14 hole in the first set after Lady Blazer winger Ash Lleses scored on an off-speed attack. Adamson mounted a blistering counterattack and took a 17-16 lead after an Eloi Dote kill.
Aseo put Adamson at set point, 24-22, but CSB forced an extended set with back-to-back points. Dote’s runner gave the Lady Falcons a set point advantage before Rocha ended the frame with a kill block.
The Lady Falcons sustained the momentum of their first set comeback to send the Lady Blazers into a three-game losing skid in the competition supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, Mikasa, Asics, Rigour Technology, Jersey Haven, Solar Sports and 12 Beyond Production as technical partners. CSB will take on twice-to-beat University of Santo Tomas in the next round.
Grace Borromeo led the Lady Blazers with 10 points on eight kills and two aces, Arianna Pua scored eight while Camila Bartolome finished with seven markers. All games in the competition are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
In the second game, University of Santo Tomas swept the Round of 8 with a quick win over Letran, 25-11, 25-19, 25-21.
Veteran hitter Regina scored 16 points, including eight in the third frame, to lead the Golden Tigresses to a 3-0 finish in Pool F and build momentum heading into next week's quarterfinals.
The top-seeded twice-to-beat UST tackles Pool E No. 4 seed College of Saint Benilde in the quarters slated to begin on November 14.
Jurado kept the Tigresses together in the tight third set and delivered crucial back-to-back kills to put UST at matchpoint, 24-21, after the Lady Knights closed in to within one.
Erica Gutierrez finished off the reigning NCAA champion with a down the line kill.
“Isa sa mga nire-remind ko sa teammates ko and for me is ‘yung kalmahan lang talaga lalo kapag crucial moments,” said Jurado, who had 13 kills and three kill blocks.
“I think, based on previous games and previous experiences, mas nara-rattle and mas naninigas kami, kaya it’s very important na at least may mag-remind kahit na not from me but other teammates as well, na mag-relax at maging kalmado. In that way, mas makakapag-isip kami kung paano manalo ng maayos,” she added.
Avril Bron added seven points while Angge Poyos and Diza Berayo had six markers each for the Tigresses, who had 42 attacks, nine kill blocks and landed six aces.
Letran dropped its second game in three outings despite the 11-point effort of Judiel Nitura.
Nizelle Martin and Sheena Sarie got six and five points, respectively, for the Lady Knights.
Letran will wait for the result of the Ateneo De Manila University and University of the Philippines clash, still being played as of press time, to determine its quarters placing. TMT
