Defending champions Ateneo de Manila University and last season’s silver medalist University of the Philippines secured the first two spots in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Badminton Tournament Final Four after contrasting wins on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Manila.
The Blue Eagles extended their winning streak to 26 games, defeating the University of Santo Tomas Golden Shuttlers, 4-1, to book their place in the Final Four.
Reigning three-time MVP Mika De Guzman and last season’s captain Missy Cervantes led the charge for Ateneo.
Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons overcame a second singles setback to register a 4-1 win over the Adamson University Lady Falcons, marking their third victory of the season.
The debuting pair of Kimberly Lao and Anielka Paz were instrumental in securing the win.
“Again, no team here is easy, so we’re taking it one game at a time. Every game matters talaga, so we always have to give our best,” said Blue Eagles assistant coach Roy Callanta.
With National University and UP still on the schedule for the reigning four-peat champions, Callanta emphasized the need for consistency.
“We’ll still have to keep our goal in mind, but we’re taking it one weekend at a time. We’ll focus, block out distractions, and concentrate on the task at hand,” he said.
De Guzman and Cervantes secured Ateneo’s victory with a hard-fought 17-21, 21-5, 21-18 comeback against UST’s Rhafi Anne Santos and Jennifer Saladaga in the second doubles match.
Earlier, Angel Valle and De Guzman had delivered wins in the singles matches, giving the Blue Eagles a 2-0 lead.
Valle defeated Charlize Belen, 21-6, 21-14, while De Guzman overpowered Reshane Nicor, 21-9, 21-13.
UST earned a point when Patricia De Leon, last season’s Rookie of the Year, and Mariell Alvarez staged a comeback in a marathon 67-minute match to beat Feeby Ferrer and Maxene Olango, 14-21, 21-17, 21-19.
However, it was the only point the Golden Shuttlers could muster, as rookie Althea Ocampo sealed the win for Ateneo with a commanding 21-10, 21-15 victory over De Leon in the final singles match.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
For UP, rookie Paz, who previously played singles against De La Salle University, partnered with Lao, a finalist at the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open.
The two guided the Fighting Maroons to the semifinals.
The duo won a closely contested doubles match, 22-20, 21-18, against Adamson’s Abigail Barcelona and Keanna Casaje.
The Fighting Maroons and the Lady Falcons split the first two singles matches.
National team pool member Susmita Ramos secured a 21-10, 21-7 victory over Aleyha Villanueva for UP, but Adamson’s Barcelona responded with a 22-20, 21-8 win against Kahrene Zapanta.
Ramos, paired with rookie Dianne Libaton, then set the stage for the decisive doubles match, cruising to a 21-9, 21-11 victory over Jennifer Ondol and Justine Barsona in the first doubles tie.
Season 85 Rookie of the Year Anthea Gonzalez capped the day for UP with a dominant 21-4, 21-15 win over Key Fuerte in just 29 minutes.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
In other action, National University bounced back with a 4-1 victory over De La Salle University, moving a win away from joining Ateneo and UP in the Final Four.
Jeya Pinlac and Andria Songcuan continued their unbeaten run, winning their doubles match 21-14, 21-18 against Mia Manguilimotan and Viana Antonio.
Ysabel Aurora, the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open runner-up, and Karyll Rio won the first two singles matches for NU.
Aurora cruised to a 21-5, 21-6 win over Danica Castillo, while Rio needed three sets to overcome Ghiselle Bautista, 21-16, 16-21, 21-12.
De Leon made her season debut for La Salle, partnering with Gwyneth Desacola for a 21-12, 21-13 sweep of Jacqueline Pantoja and Bautista in the second doubles match.
However, DLSU’s Lady Tuario averted a shutout with a 21-10, 21-19 win over Pinlac in the non-bearing singles rubber.
NU (2-1) will aim to clinch a Final Four spot when they face the defending champions Blue Eagles on Sunday at 1:00 PM.
Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons will look for their fourth straight win against UST. La Salle and Adamson will battle for their first win of the season at the same Malate venue.
