Ateneo de Manila University captured the inaugural UAAP Women’s Badminton Team Event championship under the new format, defeating National University, 3–1, on Wednesday at the Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The title gives the Blue Eagles an early advantage in their bid for back-to-back crowns, a feat that would bring them closer to matching the University of the Philippines’ record of 10 women’s badminton titles.
“I am very happy right now na napakita naming pwede rin naming gawin na kahit wala na si ate Mika (De Guzman),” said team captain Althea Ocampo. “Knowing na noong andyan si ate Mika, may one point na agad. But ngayon, mahirap pero sobrang worth it.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Just as they did in Tuesday’s semifinal against the Fighting Maroons, Angel Valle and Althea Hernandez delivered the clincher for the Blue Eagles, completing a come-from-behind 14–21, 21–19, 21–8 victory over Tia Bualat and Lee-Anne De Leon.
Trailing in the second game, which they needed to win to stay in contention, Valle and Hernandez capitalized on the Lady Bulldogs’ rotational miscues to turn the match around. A well-placed kill from Hernandez proved to be the decisive shot in the frame, forcing a decider.
That momentum carried into the third game, where the Ateneo pair built an 11–2 cushion by the changeover. A lengthy rally capped by another Hernandez winner extended their lead to 19–8 before a NU error, and a Valle smash sealed the championship for the Blue Eagles.
The team title gives Ateneo the upper hand heading into the singles and doubles competitions, with 15 points against NU’s 12.
The Blue Eagles also bounced back from their defeat to the Bulldogs in the men’s team event final earlier in the day.
The league will award an overall championship at the conclusion of the tournament on Tuesday, November 3, based on the points accumulated across the three events: team, singles, and doubles.
“Yun na nga po ‘yung bagong system, bagong format. Malaking bagay ‘tong team event kaya gusto talaga namin ‘tong makuha. Kaya masaya ko na napunta sa ‘min ‘to,” Ocampo added.
The Lady Bulldogs drew first blood through captain Sab Amora, who made quick work of Arkeexa Ojera, 21–5, 21–4, in just 22 minutes.
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However, Ocampo eventually sparked Ateneo’s comeback.
The Season 87 Rookie of the Year needed 58 minutes to outlast Karyll Rio, 21–15, 20–22, 21–12, in the second singles rubber, leveling the tie at 1–1.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Daena Castro and Andrea Hernandez then outlasted Hailene Diaz and Naeomi Gulpany in 77 minutes, completing a 12–21, 21–18, 21–10 comeback victory to put Ateneo one win away from the team event gold.
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines leaned on the experience of former captain Kimberly Lao and current skipper Susmita Ramos to sweep Adamson University, 3–0, and secure the team bronze.
The two graduating seniors overcame a difficult start to complete a come-from-behind 16–21, 21–12, 21–14 victory over rookies Mary Destiny Untal and Jasmine Reformina, sealing the tie for the Fighting Maroons.
Anthea Gonzalez opened the scoring with a 14–21, 21–12, 21–3 victory over Abby Barcelona in 39 minutes. Last season’s Rookie of the Year, Brys Fuggan, then extended UP’s lead to 2–0 with a dominant 21–11, 21–10 win over Key Aubrey Fuerte.
The Fighting Maroons will carry 10 points into the individual competitions, while the Lady Falcons trail with eight.
University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University rounded out the standings in the team event with six and four points, respectively.
