Champions are dreamers who never give up.
The University of the Philippines Lady Fighting Maroons completed their run for a third consecutive championship against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles, 3-1, Saturday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Ateneo skipper Bianca Carlos took the first singles match for her squad with a straight-game conquest of last year’s Most Valuable Player Bea Bernardo. Despite trailing early in both games, the former two-time MVP pulled away late to win the match at 21-16, 21-18.
From there, the reigning queens took over the Hall.
The eventual sweep of the rest of the matches started with Gelita Castilo’s comprehensive win of the second singles match over Samantha Ramos.
Castilo dominated the early goings of both games, completely throwing the Ateneo sophomore off her game plan. With her control of the match, the fifth-year Maroon made a statement with a 21-13 win in the opening game.
It was the same story in the second game. However, some crucial errors from Castilo offered some lease of life for Ramos. Nonetheless, the veteran in the former MVP showed in the end game, taking a tight 24-22 win to clinch the match.
Eventual MVP Poca Alcala and UAAP Season 77 MVP Jessie Francisco then whitewashed the first-time tandem of Trixie Malibiran and Ramos in two games in the first doubles match. Despite a slow start from Francisco, the Maroon duo recovered just in time to stamp their class in the 21-15, 21-17 contest.
In the second doubles match, Carlos and Geva De Vera snatched the first game despite trailing the whole frame, 23-21. But with Lea Inlayo taking control of the match and Castilo putting in the powerful hits, the Lady Maroons were unstoppable. The Maroons closed out the match 21-12, 21-13.
With Inlayo’s soaring dive for the kill, the packed UP side of the gallery erupted as they celebrated a third-straight crown for the State U.
Coach Melvin Llanes was elated with the results.
“Suwerte talaga kami,” he said. “And the ladies played very well, exceptionally well. Focus sila at gusto talaga nilang manalo.”
The newly-minted mentor also took note of their lone loss in the 27-tie stretch as the turning point of the season.
“Sabi nga, sa buhay, may pagsubok, kailangan mong matuto at lumaban uli,” he shared.
Team co-captain and season MVP Alcala expressed her pride of the talented squad.
“As long as you believe in each other, yun na yung pinaka-foundation nung team,” she said. “Kahit gaano ka-talented yung team, as long as may respect kayo sa isa’t isa and you believe in each other, you can do anything.”
