Adamson downs UP anew, completes SSL Unity Cup semis cast
MANILA, Philippines — Adamson University completed a historic reversal, overcoming University of the Philippines’ twice-to-beat advantage with a 25-19, 22-25, 25-7, 25-16, victory in the quarterfinal sudden death to advance in the Final Four of the 2026 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Unity Cup on Sunday at the Muntinlupa Sports Center.
Seasoned hitters Frances Mordi and Shaina Nitura led the Lady Falcons’ balanced scoring to upset the second-seeded Fighting Maroons and set up a knockout semifinal showdown against unbeaten five-peat-seeking National University.
Final Four action in the league’s centerpiece competition, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner, and R&B Milk Tea, begins on November 21 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Adamson unleashed a decisive 13-3 counterattack to turn a 5-8 deficit at the start of the fourth set into a commanding 18-11 advantage.
The Lady Falcons kept their distance the rest of the way. Mordi put the cherry on top with a thunderous crosscourt kill to end the one-hour, 56-minute rubber match.
Mordi uncorked 22 points on 18 kills, three aces and a kill block as Adamson became the first team in league history to survive a twice-to-win disadvantage. “I just want to give thanks to God for giving us this opportunity again. We got another opportunity to qualify. We’re just hoping for more wins in our next games, hopefully,” the Nigerian winger said.
Nitura scored 12 of her 13 points on kills, Third Tuddao finished with 12 markers built in nine attacks, two aces and a kill block while Eloi Dote chipped in 10 points for the Lady Falcons. Adamson forced the lone quarterfinals pairing that went into a decider with a 25-20, 25-17, 26-24, shocker over UP in the opener on Saturday at the same Muntinlupa venue.
The Lady Falcons buried the Fighting Maroons, 15-2, and never looked back in a dominating third set after splitting the first two frames.
Jelai Gajero was the only UP player in double figures with 10 points, all from attacks.
Kianne Olango added eight markers for the Fighting Maroons, who defeated Adamson in the group stage but failed to pull the trigger in games that mattered most.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University and last year’s runner-up University of Santo Tomas will clash in the other semis pairing 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.
All games in the competition are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports. TMT
