Clarence Villaflor and Jochelle Alvarez lead the charge as the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Badminton Tournament launches its inaugural individual competitions on Friday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
Fresh from contrasting triumphs in the team event, Villaflor and the National University Bulldogs and Alvarez and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles now turn their attention to the singles and doubles competitions, where individual performances will also play a crucial role in determining the overall champion.
Villaflor, the country’s top-ranked shuttler, is expected to spearhead NU’s campaign after the Bulldogs clinched their record 10th men’s team title and their first under the new format last Wednesday.
However, the three-time Philippine National Badminton Open runner-up knows that the challenge remains the same as he seeks another strong showing in the individual events.
“Same lang din po siguro ‘yung mindset na kung ano ‘yung ginawa ko sa team event, ‘yun pa rin. Ibibigay ko lang ulit ‘yung best ko,” said Villaflor.
“Isa ‘yun sa factor eh, being a national athlete; pressure ‘yun sa ‘min kasi kami ‘yung inaasahan ng tao na manalo talaga. Kaya kailangang gawin namin ‘yung best namin,” added the 2026 Azerbaijan International Challenge bronze medalist.
With a random draw determining the matchups, Villaflor will have no bye to the quarterfinals and must first get past University of the Philippines’ Josh Dupet in their Round of 16 encounter at 9:45 a.m.
Bulldogs teammates MJ Perez and Jacinth Paul Ruedas also face opening-round tests, with Perez taking on University of Santo Tomas’ John Vincent Espinoza and Ruedas battling Manuel Fulmentera for spots in the quarterfinals.
NU captain Lanz Zafra, meanwhile, has already secured a quarterfinal berth and awaits the winner of the matchup between De La Salle University’s Joshua Cuarte and Ateneo’s Zeth Quiambao.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
On the women’s side, Alvarez hopes to build on Ateneo’s title-winning campaign in the team event as she pursues the individual singles crown.
The Season 86 co-MVP, who finished as the most recent national women’s singles runner-up, is eager to showcase a different side of her game now that the spotlight shifts to individual competition.
“Sa individual, I want to do better. I want to express kung ano ‘yung nararamdaman ko, kasi individual na eh,” said Alvarez.
“Pero lagi ko ring sinasabi sa team na I will do my best kahit minsan pangit ‘yung gising. I will just trust the process and always give my best for them,” she added.
Alvarez, however, faces a formidable opponent in NU’s graduating captain Sab Amora, who went undefeated throughout the team event.
The two will battle for a place in the quarterfinals at 1:45 p.m. in one of the day’s marquee matchups.
Ateneo’s Althea Hernandez and Angel Valle, who played key roles in the Blue Eagles’ semifinal and final victories in the team event, will also face challenging assignments against La Salle’s Alphecca Espe and Venice Salapong, respectively.
Blue Eagles captain Althea Ocampo, meanwhile, has already advanced to the quarterfinals, where she will face either UP’s Brys Fuggan or NU’s Karyll Rio.
With the inaugural individual competitions now underway, the country’s top collegiate shuttlers will have another opportunity to establish themselves, with every match potentially shaping the race for the overall UAAP badminton championship.
