You can never deny the heart of a champion
Reigning back-to-back champions University of the Philippines turned the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall into their stage after completing an epic comeback and upending challengers Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, 3-2, Wednesday afternoon.
With the lineup playing an important factor in a team tie, the Lady Maroons won the chess battle this time.
Ateneo took the upper hand when they clinched the first two singles matches. Sophomore Samantha Ramos and team captain Bianca Carlos swept their respective opponents to get the 2-0 lead.
Ramos waylaid UAAP 77 Rookie of the Year Ann Marañon, 21-11, 21-14. The Ateneo newbie dominated during the middle portions of both frames to claim the decisive win.
In the second singles, Carlos bullied her way past Gelita Castilo for two 21-15 score lines. The Queen Eagle proved her billing against her predecessor as she pulled away from tight starts to secure the match.
Just when Ateneo knocked on the championship door, UP shut it.
Poca Alcala and Jessie Francisco easily took care of their first doubles assignment, 21-13, 21-15, against Geva De Vera and Cassie Lim.
The Maroons were firing on all fronts, forcing Ateneo to errors, before killing the rally with a variety of shots. Errors from the Loyola pair more than sealed their doom.
In the second doubles match, Lea Inlayo and Castilo threatened to put away Chanel Lunod and Carlos early with a huge 18-12 lead. The Ateneo tandem, however, claimed point after point to force deuce and eventually steal the first game at 22-20, as the Blue and White gallery erupted in cheers.
Nevertheless, with the title on the line, the battle-tested Maroon duo prevailed. Inlayo and Castilo never looked back despite the strong challenge of the opponents. UP consequently won the match at 21-16, 21-12.
It again boiled down to the third singles match, and team captain Alcala thought of one thing.
“Ang pinaka nag-push sa min, ako ha, lagi sa sarili ko na, ‘I will do whatever it takes to defend the title.’ I won’t let anything get in the way of that.”
That determination was evident in her comprehensive conquest of last tie’s heroine Trixie Malibiran. The lanky UP skipper overpowered her counterpart to the tune of a 21-10, 21-14 victory.
Alcala had therefore steered her squad to another chance at that third consecutive UAAP crown.
Coach Melvin Llanes credited the heart shown by his players even when their backs were against the wall.
“Yun yung puhunan namin nung doubles at last singles, nung umabot na sa dulo, talagang puso na lang at gusto naming maging three-time na champion,” he said.
Who will emerge as champions this year? The winner-take-all tie is slated on Saturday, right after the men’s tie at the same venue.
