MANILA — A high-pressure knockout duel awaits Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas as they meet in the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball stepladder semifinals on Wednesday (May 6) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Despite sweeping the Tigresses twice in the elimination round, Adamson enters the 3 p.m. do-or-die match knowing past results offer no guarantees. The loser exits the championship race, while the winner moves one step closer to the Finals.
The victor will advance to challenge No. 2 seed National University, the defending two-time champion. The winner of that matchup secures a Finals slot against undefeated La Salle, which completed a perfect 14–0 elimination run. The title series begins May 6.
All eyes will be on the scoring duel between Adamson’s Shai Nitura and UST’s Angge Poyos, both of whom have been among the most dangerous offensive players this season.
Nitura continues to power the Lady Falcons alongside Frances Mordi and Joy Aseo, with setter Fhei Sagaysay orchestrating the offense. Adamson has reached the Final Four for the first time since Season 85 in 2023.
Coach JP Yude said the team remains grounded in preparation, stressing consistency and trust in their daily grind.
Their last encounter was tightly contested, with Adamson edging UST in a close straight-sets win (27-25, 25-20, 26-24), proving how competitive the matchup has become.
UST, meanwhile, carries momentum from its playoff win over Far Eastern University. Under coach Shaq delos Santos, the Tigresses are sharpening their serve-receive and offensive execution.
Captain Detdet Pepito emphasized full effort in training and belief in their system as they aim to extend their season.
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