THE ATENEO Blue Eagles finished the Philippine Badminton Association-Smash Intercollegiate (PBAD) tournament with a dominant 5-0 win over the Adamson Soaring Falcons (AdU) earlier today at the Power Up Centro Atletico Sports Complex in Quezon City.

Ateneo’s Bryan Bernardo had a powerful start in the Men’s Singles category against AdU’s CL Garcia, winning the matchup, 2-0. His combination of aggressive attacks and controlled plays set the tone for the Blue and White.

Meanwhile, Jochelle Alvarez followed suit in the Women’s Singles matchup, securing another victory for Ateneo, 2-0, at the expense of AdU’s Camille Buagas. Both Alvarez and her opponent utilized calculated tactics, which made the first set close, 21-18. Due to an injury sustained by Buagas during the second set, the Soaring Falcons were forced to forfeit the match.

The Blue Eagles remained consistent entering their Men’s Doubles contest, holding off AdU, 2-0. Team Captain Arthur Salvado and rookie Lynden Laborte dictated the pace of the match with an array of dropshots and smashes.

Following the win from their Men’s Doubles counterparts, Ateneo’s Missy Cervantes and Chanelle Lunod swept their Adamson foes in their mastery in the Women’s Doubles bout. The Blue Eagle tandem’s activity and accuracy were met with unforced errors on the opposing end. 

In the Mixed Doubles match, Maxene Olango and Jacinto Maliwat captured Ateneo’s final victory in an impressive performance against AdU’s Kyle Corcuerra and Ivy Plata.  Olango and Maliwat’s win marked the Blue Eagles’ tenth win in eleven ties after getting swept by the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons (3-0), in the opening matchup. 

The Blue Eagles bow out of the PBAD intercollegiate tournament as the second-seeded  team in Group A with a 2-1 record, going 10-6 in ties. The group’s top-seeded Fighting Maroons advanced to the championship, challenging Group B’s first-seeded San Beda University Red Smashers—with UP eventually claiming the championship

Results:

Team-tie score: Ateneo-AdU: 5-0

Men’s Singles: Bernardo def. Garcia, 21-11, 21-19

Women’s Singles: Alvarez def. Buagas, 21-18, Retire

Men’s Doubles: Laborte/Salvado def. Ganoy Hernandez, 21-15, 21-15

Women’s Doubles: Cervantes/Lunod def. Cabriga/Bartolazo, 21-12, 21-7

Mixed Doubles: Olango/Maliwat def. Corcuerra/Plata, 21-19, 21-16