Defending champion University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University stamped their class over their respective opponents to clinch spots in the UAAP Season 88 Women’s Badminton Final Four of the after notching their third consecutive victories on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Malate, Manila.
The Fighting Maroons fended off the challenge of the University of Santo Tomas, 4-1, with last season’s heroes Kimberly Lao and Anthea Gonzalez sealing the win in the second doubles match.
The UP seniors dispatched Marielle Alvarez and Christine Dorega, 21-17, 21-11, in just 36 minutes to secure the tie, setting up an exciting matchup against Season 87 bronze medalist National University on Thursday.
“Ang lagi lang naman naming sinasabi sa kanila is every game, ibigay ang best. Siguro, ‘yun ‘yung strength ng team — every game, hindi sila nape-pressure. Talagang one point at a time lang ‘yung iniisip nila,” said Fighting Maroons coach Isay Cayanan.
“Kami naman kasi hindi naman kami tumitingin kung anong school ‘yan kasi lahat naman ‘yan laban talaga. Kumbaga, ‘pag dating ng UAAP, lahat ‘yan, anybody’s game. Focus lang every game at ibigay ‘yung best, kasi ‘pag binigay mo ‘yon, lalabas naman sa resulta,” added the Season 80 champion with De La Salle University.
Earlier, Gonzalez and rookie Brys Fuggan set the tone for the reigning queens by building a 2-0 lead. Gonzalez, last year’s MVP, bounced back from a first-set loss to dominate Hanie De Jesus, 15-21, 21-12, 21-11, while Fuggan rolled to her third straight singles win with a 21-16, 21-12 triumph over Dorega.
UST managed to snatch one back through Jennifer Saladaga and Rhafi Santos, who swept Krissa De Leon and Susmita Ramos, 21-19, 21-16. But that was all the Golden Tigresses could muster, as Ramos closed out the tie with a commanding 21-5, 21-11 victory over Saladaga in the third singles match, sending UST to a 0-3 card.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Meanwhile, Ateneo showed no mercy against Adamson University, cruising to a 5-0 sweep behind captain Mika De Guzman and rookie Althea Hernandez. The Blue Eagles sealed the tie in just 41 minutes as De Guzman and Hernandez defeated Keanne Casaje and Patricia Floria, 21-17, 21-14, in the first doubles match.
Co-captains De Guzman and Jochelle Alvarez gave the Blue Eagles an early 2-0 cushion after the singles rubbers. De Guzman limited Key Aubrey Fuerte to just 13 points, 21-5, 21-8, while Alvarez held off Abbygail Barcelona in three games, 21-18, 13-21, 21-9.
With the tie secured, Ateneo completed the sweep as Alvarez teamed up with Daena Castro to defeat Graziel Cabriga and Rhealyn Pedron, 21-18, 21-11, before Althea Ocampo downed Khylle Agura, 21-7, 21-14, in the final singles.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
National University, meanwhile, stayed within striking distance of the leaders after improving to 2-1 with a 3-2 victory over De La Salle University.
Lady Bulldog rookie Hailene Diaz delivered her breakout performance, clinching the decisive third singles match with a 21-11, 21-15 win over Lady Green Shuttlers captain Ghiselle Bautista after the tie was deadlocked at two rubbers apiece.
Ysabel Amora opened the tie with a dominant 21-10, 21-10 win over Via Antonio, but De La Salle’s Zashca Tuario responded with a hard-fought 21-10, 12-21, 21-19 victory against Karyll Rio. Antonio and Bautista then gave La Salle the lead after outlasting Diaz and Alhana Mabale, 21-17, 14-21, 21-14.
However, Amora and Rio leveled the tie with a 20-22, 21-17, 21-17 triumph over Mia Manguilimotan and Ma. Army Espe, setting the stage for Diaz’s clutch performance in the decider.
The qualifying rounds continue on Thursday at 1 p.m., featuring semifinal-bound UP and Ateneo facing NU and UST, respectively, in search of their fourth wins, while De La Salle and Adamson will battle for their first victory of the season.
