Ateneo de Manila University reclaimed the throne and was crowned queen of the UAAP Season 88 Badminton tournament, sweeping first-time finalist National University, 3-0, on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Malate, Manila.
As if scripted, graduating captain Mika De Guzman capped her UAAP career with a rousing performance. She led the Blue Eagles to their eighth UAAP title in her fifth and sixth years — making her swan song a true coronation.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Ateneo completed the badminton golden double as its men’s team earlier secured victory over the University of the Philippines, 3-0.
A standout from St. Paul College in Pasig, De Guzman ensured her return was one of redemption. She swept the two events she played — the first singles match and the first doubles match.
De Guzman, a Smash Pilipinas standout, displayed both consistency and dominance, needing just 20 minutes in her final singles match to topple Hailene Diaz, 21-8, 21-8. Diaz tried to match De Guzman at the start of both games, but the Ateneo star quickly took control and never looked back.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Her teammate and sophomore, Althea Ocampo, overcame a first-game setback to defeat NU’s top player, Ysabel Amora, 17-21, 21-12, 21-13, in the second singles rubber.
Ocampo showed flashes of brilliance in the opener against Amora, but her rally wasn’t enough to take down the Lady Bulldog.
The Season 87 Rookie of the Year, however, carried that momentum into the second and third games, putting Ateneo on the verge of the championship.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
With Ateneo up 2-0, De Guzman and co-captain Jochelle Alvarez wasted no time reclaiming the throne for the Blue Eagles in the lone doubles match.
After the mandatory break for Amora, who also played doubles, De Guzman and Alvarez dominated the first game. They turned the second set into a statement of their championship credentials.
The Ateneo captains patiently waited for the right moments to attack, and despite taking 34 minutes to close the match, they claimed a decisive 21-6, 21-10 victory over Amora and Gwyneth Desacola, securing both the tie and the championship.
“Of course I am very happy and proud of the team, that we were able to bring the double gold back to Ateneo. So just really happy and proud of everyone,” De Guzman said.
“Well, sobrang nakita ko naman. Kay Avec (Ocampo) pa lang nakita ko na all heart, all-out siya. And I am very happy that Jochelle and I also gave our all-out, all heart this season.”
With this triumph, Ateneo claimed its sixth men’s title and ninth women’s crown, marking a third double crown and a second twin victory in three years.
With eventual MVPs De Guzman and Lyrden Laborte leading the way, longtime head coach Kennie Asuncion-Robles credited the team’s hunger after last year’s losses.
“Definitely, maraming learnings from what happened last year, so talagang gutom sila to take it back,” said the concurrent program director of the Philippine Badminton Association.
“Sobrang ok na, we had good recruitment and it played a big role, eh, kasi hindi sobrang pagod ‘yung players mo. Hindi kailangang mag-double event lahat. It was really a big help.”
University of the Philippines continued its post-pandemic podium streak with a third-place finish, sweeping University of Santo Tomas, 3-0.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Susmita Ramos and Anthea Gonzalez gave the Fighting Maroons a 2-0 lead following contrasting victories in the singles matches.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Ramos, a former Smash Pilipinas standout, ended her fourth year with a 21-19, 22-20 win over Reshane Nicor. Meanwhile, last year’s MVP Gonzalez needed 36 minutes to dominate eventual co-Rookie of the Year Hanie De Jesus, 21-15, 21-8.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Newcomers Krissa De Leon and Trisha Postrano then secured the bronze with a 21-18, 21-18 win over UST seniors Jennifer Saladaga and Rhafi Anne Santos.
The Fighting Maroons also had another reason to celebrate, as Brys Fuggan shared the top rookie award with De Jesus.
