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After a superb opening set and a second-set escape, the Lady Falcons seized control in the third and fended off the repeated attempts of the Lady Tamaraws to extend the match.
Shai Nitura and Frances Mordi refused to back down and delivered the finishing touches to seal the win for the San Marcelino-based squad.
The win lifted Adamson to a 9-5 slate and clinched a return ticket to the semifinals for the first time since Season 85 in 2023, when Trisha Tubu, Kate Santiago, and Lorene Toring led the charge.
It will also mark the first semis appearance for Nitura, Mordi, and setter Fhei Sagaysay.
They also have a chance to steal the twice-to-beat edge if reigning champion National University (9-3) falls in straight sets in its final two matches.
On the other hand, the Tina Salak-mentored crew dropped to 7-6.
University of Santo Tomas Golden Tigresses (7-5) could book the last Final Four spot if wins its final two games.
If UST drops its final two matches and FEU defeats Ateneo (2-11), the Gerz Petallo-skippered crew will clinch the No. 4 seed.
Otherwise, a playoff between the two sides will decide the last Final Four berth.
Nitura, last year’s Rookie of the Year and an MVP plum contender, dazzled anew with 18 points off 12 spikes, two blocks, and four aces along with six excellent digs and 10 excellent receptions. Mordi, for her part, collected 12 points, eight digs, and six receptions.
Lhouriz Tuddao also impressed with 10 points, MJ Aseo and Princess Dote conspired for nine points, while Sagaysay posted 19 excellent sets, one point, and three digs. Althea Aposaga logged 10 digs and seven receptions.
Petallo paced FEU with 11 points, five digs, and nine receptions, while Aly Devosora added nine points in a losing effort. Other usual contributors struggled as Jaz Ellarina, Faida Bakanke, and Lovely Lopez were limited to six, five, and three points, respectively.
Meanwhile, FEU displayed steely nerves and eked past Adamson, 26-24, 22-25, 23-25, 25-9, 15-12, to seize the top seed in the men’s division ahead of the Final Four.
Trailing 1-2, the Tamaraws swung the momentum back on their side and dominated the fourth set to force a decider, then sustained the surge in the extension behind an 11-6 lead to thwart the Soaring Falcons’ final push, with Mikko Espartero delivering the finishing blow in the two-hour, 10-minute match.
FEU went four in a row to boost its record to 12-1 for an assured hold on the No. 1 spot, while Adamson fell to 3-11 hole at the bottom of the standings.
Espartero took control with 22 points and 19 excellent receptions, while Dryx Saavedra added 17 points for the Tamaraws, who take on potential semifinal foe in Ateneo (7-6) for its final game this Wednesday, April 22, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum,
Ariel Cacao engineered FEU’s offense anew with 33 excellent sets, while Lirick Mendoza and Amet Bituin contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Richard Besorio anchored the Falcons with 17 points and 16 excellent receptions, while Zyro Ornos and Ahmed Tahiluddin scored 12 points apiece for Adamson, which faces University of the Philippines (3-10) to close out their season.
