Last season’s finalists Ateneo de Manila University and National University secured the first two spots in the UAAP Season 89 Women’s Badminton Team Event Final Four following victories over the University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University, respectively, on Tuesday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
Both squads showed that familial connections matter, with sisters Althea and Andrea Hernandez leading the Blue Eagles to a 5–0 sweep of the Lady Shuttlers, while cousins Hailene Diaz and Naeomi Gulpany helped the Lady Bulldogs advance with a 4-1 decision over the Lady Falcons.
Andrea and Althea Hernandez continued their winning run with a 21–11, 21–18 victory, complementing the singles wins of Angel Valle and Jochelle Alvarez to secure Ateneo’s semifinal ticket.
Valle continued to build on her renewed confidence, taking the opener, 21–10, 21–10, over Angelica Racca before Alvarez made it 2–0 with a dominant 21–8, 21–12 win over Hanie De Jesus.
“So far, it’s good na napakita namin ‘yung napag-trainingan namin. Going into the Final Four, it will be challenging kasi nga mga top universities na rin ang andoon. I think I’m excited to show what we have trained for ng isang buong taon siguro. Excited and at the same time kinakabahan,” said former co-captain Alvarez.
The defending champions will still face fellow contenders University of the Philippines and NU in the coming days, but the senior stalwart hopes the team will approach those battles the Ateneo way.
“Like what Coach Kennie (Asuncion-Robles) always says, huwag namin tignan yung result, but instead tignan muna namin kung sino yung katapat namin. Focusing kami in each rally at a time and to show who we are and what we can do,” the UAAP Season 86 co-MVP shared.
With the tie already decided, the Blue Eagles completed the sweep as Daena Castro and Arkeexa Ojera rallied past Christine Dorega and Harlene Herbabuena, 9–21, 21–10, 21–14, to give Ateneo a 4–0 advantage. Captain Althea Ocampo then completed the rout with a 21–10, 21–9 victory over Angel Vitangcol.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
For their part, Diaz and Gulpany shook off the pressure to deliver another victory for NU, defeating Jennifer Ondol and Rheylyn Pedron, 21–15, 21–15, to clinch the Lady Bulldogs’ place in the knockout stage.
Sab Amora won the second singles match for NU, beating Abby Barcelona, 21–12, 21–15, to put the Lady Bulldogs within one win of the semifinal spot with a 2–0 lead.
“After do’n sa win against UP, masaya kami sa naging result, pero hindi lang naman ‘yun ang kaya namin. Mas gusto pa po naming i-push, kagaya po ngayon,” said the graduating captain.
“Aminado po ako na hindi lang ‘yon tiyamba, kung may nagsasabi man ng ganoon. Ipo-prove namin na mas kaya namin ngayon kasi alam namin na ginawa namin ‘yung best namin sa training,” Amora, the 2024 Philippine National Badminton Open runner-up, said of the team’s first-ever Finals appearance last season.
Gweneth Chiva set the tone for NU with a 21–18, 21–5 victory over Jiezel Del Rosario, but Mary Destiny Untal and Jasmine Reformina pulled one back for Adamson by defeating Lee-Ann Jade De Leon and Tia Bualat, 21–8, 21–15, in the first doubles match.
That proved to be Adamson’s only win, as cousins Diaz and Gulpany restored NU’s advantage. Karyll Rio then defeated Rosheila Quierez, 22–24, 21–19, 21–15, to seal the tie for the Lady Bulldogs.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Meanwhile, the University of the Philippines bounced back with a dominant 5–0 sweep of De La Salle University to move closer to the Final Four with a 2–1 record.
Rookie Cindee Marchan made an impressive UAAP debut, teaming up with Season 87 MVP Anthea Gonzalez for a 21–11, 21–14 victory over Alphecca Espe and Venice Salapong in 32 minutes.
Susmita Ramos and Pat De Leon had earlier given the Fighting Maroons a 2–0 lead. Ramos needed 33 minutes to secure a 21–8, 21–11 win over Erin Vitangcol, while De Leon made quick work of Lady Tuario, 21–11, 21–14.
Krissa De Leon and Kimberly Lao extended UP’s lead to 4–0 with a 21–12, 21–11 victory over Ghiselle Bautista and Athena Villanueva.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year, Brys Fuggan, then returned to the court with a swift 21–6, 21–18 win over Kim Lagare to complete the sweep.
UP will try to join Ateneo and NU in securing a Final Four berth on Wednesday when it takes on the defending champions at 1 p.m.
