MANILA, Philippines–With all things considered, Adamson on Sunday scripted the best possible ending to its UAAP Season 87 women’s volleyball campaign, dismantling University of the Philippines in straight sets at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Battling for pride—and perhaps laying the groundwork for next year—the Lady Falcons carved out a 25-13, 25-21, 25-18 triumph  to finish with a 6-8 win-loss record, a significant improvement from last season’s 3-11 slate that led to a seventh-place finish.

Shaina Nitura, the record-blasting freshman who could very well bag top rookie honors, set the tone and delivered when the host school came within sniffing distance of a comeback.

READ: UAAP: Shaina Nitura, Adamson shake things up with upset of FEU

Adamson’s Mayang Nuique, coach JP Yude, Shaina Nitura and Fhei Sagaysay after the win vs. UP. #UAAPSeason87 @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/ghbYkgtl44

— Rommel Fuertes Jr. (@MeloFuertesINQ) April 27, 2025

“For me, the highlight of today’s match is the victory because it was made possible through teamwork,” she said following a 22-point performance that gave the squad its third win in four outings.

“All of us just kept looking out for each other,” she went on. “This could be the (a good) beginning of another season.”

Rookie Felicity Sagaysay also turned in a performance full of promise, tallying 17 excellent sets.

Adamson and UP wound up with identical records, but Nitura and her crack crew of youngsters will be awarded fifth place thanks to superior match points.

Kianne Olango led the Fighting Maroons with seven points, while Irah Jaboneta chipped in six as the Katipunan-based crew—once a threat in the Final Four derby—finished their campaign with heads held high after racking up five more wins compared to their previous outing last year.