National team upstart Clarence Villaflor made his much-awaited debut, setting the tone for National University’s 5–0 sweep of De La Salle University on the opening day of the UAAP Season 89 badminton team event on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
At the same venue where he shone during the country’s first-ever hosting of a BWF International Challenge, Villaflor defeated Huego Queddeng, 21–9, 21–5, in the opening singles match to put the Bulldogs on the board.
“Yun nga, first ko maglaro sa UAAP, nakakatuwa kasi isa sa dream ko rin talaga na makalaro dito at madala ‘yung bandila ng school namin. Sobrang saya lang,” said the 2026 Azerbaijan International Challenge bronze medalist.
“Pagtulungan lang namin maiangat ‘yung team namin kasi kaya naming manalo. One game at a time lang, one point at a time lang,” Villaflor added.
Lanz Zafra doubled NU’s advantage after fending off last year’s Rookie of the Year Lovic Javier, 21–9, 14–21, 21–13. Then John Vincent Lanuza and MJ Perez defeated Rey Nier Dalimo-Os and Aj Lorenz Jurada, 21–11, 14–21, 21–11, to clinch the tie for the Bulldogs.
John Benedict Gam and Jacinth Ruedas next dismantled Karl Contreras and Gift Linaban, 21–5, 21–14, to make it 4–0. Rookie Ivan Dosano completed the sweep with a come-from-behind 10–21, 21–19, 21–18 victory over Joshua Duarte.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, defending champion Ateneo de Manila University opened its title defense with a 3–2 victory over Adamson University, thanks to Zeth Quiambao and Robby Ramos.
The Blue Eagles pair needed 44 minutes to overcome John Paul Badang and Eur Cabanducos, 21–12, 19–21, 21–8, securing Ateneo’s third and deciding point.
“Siguro the fact na each and every one of us will play, na talagang seven out of the eight players will play every team tie. I talked to my teammates na mindset is to enter the court with confidence, whole heart; and we got to do it for our school,” Ramos said of the team’s mindset heading into the season.
Captain Lance Vargas had earlier given Ateneo a 1–0 lead with a dominant 21–8, 21–7 win over John Vincent Saturinas, before reigning MVP Lyrden Laborte doubled the advantage with a 21–8, 21–15 victory over Steveric Muring.
Adamson fought back by winning the next two matches, with Prince Betaisar and Jasper Manlangit securing the first doubles match, 21–16, 21–18.
Graduating senior Nathaniel Acedillo then leveled the tie for the Soaring Falcons with a 21–18, 24–22 victory over rookie Wijel Albo.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Josh Dupet extended University of the Philippines’ mastery over University of Santo Tomas, securing a 3–2 victory in the deciding singles match.
The Fighting Maroons co-captain sealed the tie with a 21–16, 21–12 win over Juan Miguel Sison.
UST came close to scoring its first victory over UP since Season 77 in 2014 after Ron Galve and Bien Miraflor stunned Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza, 21–18, 21–19, in the first doubles match to give the Growling Tigers a 2–1 lead.
However, Yuan Abinales and Enzo Rivera had other plans, battling past John Vincent Espinoza and Manuel Fulmentera, 21–14, 18–21, 21–13, to level the tie and set the stage for Dupet’s heroics.
Shan Clar put UP on the board first with a 21–11, 21–12 victory over Ivan Tuazon, but UST’s Clark Brillantes answered with a 21–19, 21–15 win over MJ Amerodin to tie the match at one point apiece.
