In a stunning turn of events, the NU Lady Bulldogs clinched their first victory in women’s badminton in years against the very same team they last won against, Adamson, 4–1.
Senior Loverly Magallano started the dream run of the Lady Bulldogs in the first singles match with a win over Christine Garin. Magallano rose to a rousing 15–2 advantage, before Garin uncorked an 8-point run of her own to cut the deficit to 5. The huge lead at the beginning fuelled NU to snatch the first, 21–13. The Johnson lady shuttler then rose to an 11–5 lead into the second game break, and never looked back as she closed out Garin, 21–11.
Rookie, Marinel Diansay made it 2–0 for NU after upending Mikaela Aquino. In the first game, it was the lady shuttler from San Marcelino who started strong from the tight start. Diansay kept in step to within two, but Aquino pulled off to get the opening frame, 21–14. Aquino kept her momentum and took the lead in the second game, before the Sampaloc-based newbie got to a scoring run. After a stalemate at 17, Diansay scored four more to finish the game, 21–19. In the deciding game, the two battled toe-to-toe, and Aquino nosed out Diansay to get to the match point first. However, it was NU who pulled though to get the game and the match, 24–22.
Garin and Maggie Villacorta took the first doubles match to get back one for Adamson after Diansay retired due to fatigue. The latter and her partner, Jiselle Capillo, rose to an early 11–5 lead into the break of the first game. However, the Lady Falcons powered their way through to keep it close. Sensing momentum, Adamson closed the first game and the win, 21–19. At this point, Diansay felt exhausted and decided to retire, forfeiting the game in Adamson’s favor.
Magallano and Amica Duay bamboozled Aquino and Clydel Pada in the second doubles to secure the win for NU. It was a close battle at the start of the first game before the Lady Bulldogs slowly pulled away. NU then unloaded a 6-point run to win the game, 21–9. The second game was the same story, as Adamson kept it close in the early goings. Magallano and Duay, then, made another huge run and finished off Adamson, 21–8.
Capillo completed the celebration for the Lady Bulldogs after pulling through against Pada in three sets. Pada, who just played in the previous match, carried her momentum and seemed warm up as she took the early lead in the first game. The Adamsonian never looked back, and clinched the win, 21–12. Capillo, however, wrestled control of the following frame after a tight start. NU led by as much as 11, 19–8, and did not relinquish the lead, as she leveled the match, 21–9. In the deciding game, Pada went ahead prior to the court change, 11–10. From there, Capillo broke free from the 18–all stalemate with three straight points to put the exclamation point on this breakthrough win.
