National University reclaimed the UAAP Men’s Badminton crown in dominant fashion, sweeping defending champion Ateneo De Manila University, 3-0, in the Season 87 Final on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Manila.
The Bulldogs further cemented their status as the league’s most successful badminton program, claiming their ninth championship overall and winning eight of the past eleven titles. NU had previously achieved a seven-peat before relinquishing the throne last season to Ateneo.
Lanz Zafra, who returned to action after sitting out last season, delivered the decisive wins for NU in this championship tie, securing the school’s ninth title in this event and its first for Season 87.
Zafra, the Season 85 co-MVP, partnered with Nestojan Tapales in a gripping doubles match, where they outlasted Season 86 co-MVP Arthur Salvado Jr. and Rookie of the Year Lance Vargas in a marathon, 70-minute contest, 23-21, 17-21, 21-17.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Talagang pinaghandaan kasi namin ‘to. Tapos meron pa kaming mga galing ng injuries. Before, ‘yung kay Mark (Velasco) before. So, masayang-masaya kami. Kami talaga ang pinaka-masaya ngayon kasi talagang nabalik namin ang korona sa Jhocson,” said long-time head coach Jaime Llanes.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Zafra, a former national team pool member, set the tone for the Bulldogs with a commanding 21-15, 21-11 victory over Vargas, pulling away from a tie at 9 in the first game and carrying that momentum to claim the opening singles.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The 2023 Philippine Badminton Open men’s singles champion, Mark Velasco, then redeemed himself from last season’s setback by defeating reigning MVP Lyrden Laborte, 21-17, 12-21, 21-18, to secure the decisive cushion for NU.
“Actually bago pa lang magsimula ‘yung second singles, sinabihan ko na siya. Psyched out ko na siya na gusto kong makita ‘yung Mark na nakilala ko, ‘yung since na pumasok siya sa NU kasi ‘yun ‘yung nawala sa kanya eh. Lagi kong pinapaalala sa kanya na kailangan niyang maibalik ‘yung confidence niya sa court,” said Llanes of his third-year ace.
Meanwhile, University of the Philippines defeated University of Santo Tomas for the third straight time in the third-place playoff, sweeping the Golden Shuttlers, 3-0.
Enzo Rivera and Mark Anthony Bernal rebounded from the previous day’s loss to claim the bronze for the Fighting Maroons, winning their doubles match against Lennox Cuilao and Bien Miraflor, 21-12, 21-12.
Jelo Albo, the Season 85 Rookie of the Year, and Shan Clar gave UP a 2-0 lead with strong singles performances. Albo powered through Cuilao, 21-4, 21-7, while Clar held off Ivan Tuazon, 21-16, 21-9.
The Golden Shuttlers wrapped up the season in fourth place.
