THE ATENEO Men’s Badminton Team suffered its first defeat in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Men’s Badminton Tournament after getting swept by the National University (NU) Bulldogs.
The Blue Eagles fell to the defending champions, 0-5, earlier today at the Centro Atletico Badminton Hall in Quezon City.
Ateneo’s Cody Torres started off the day in the first men’s singles match, squaring off against NU’s Lanz Zafra. The Bulldogs jumped into an early lead in both the first and second sets and never looked back, winning in straight sets, 21-4 and 21-7.
The second men’s singles match featured Justine Vanzuela taking on NU’s Mark Velasco. Despite a comeback attempt late in the first set, the Blue Eagles eventually surrendered, 9-21. Multiple faults on Vanzuela’s end in the second set allowed his Sampaloc-based counterpart to obtain a 21-4 victory.
[Second Men’s Singles]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) November 12, 2022
Vanzuela attempts to muster a comeback in the first set.
Ateneo: 9 NU: 19#UAAPBadminton pic.twitter.com/OtPxGvqkIO
Torres returned and partnered with Jacinto Maliwat to face NU’s Julius Villabrille and Solomon Padiz in the first men’s doubles match. The Bulldogs took control of the first set en route to a 21-9 win. The Katipunan-based pair struggled to send back NU’s aggressive attacks in the second set, bowing at 9-21 and giving Ateneo its first loss of the season.
For the second men’s doubles match, Vanzuela returned to pair with rookie Charles Bagasbas to take on NU’s Mark Velasco and Lanz Zafra. Despite a strong start for the Blue and White, the Bulldogs pulled away late to take the first set 21-14 as the two sides traded powerful shots all throughout. Facing a 7-11 deficit, Vanzuela and Bagasbas went on the attack to cut the lead, 15-17, but four consecutive faults plagued the Ateneo duo, surrendering the second set, 17-21.
[Second Men’s Doubles]
— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) November 12, 2022
Vanzuela pulls off the tricky net shot!
Ateneo: 9 NU: 8#UAAPBadminton pic.twitter.com/jTUPN8H3MG
Rookie Miguel Busuego was up next for the Blue and White against NU’s Solomon Padiz in the third men’s singles match. Despite a late rally by the Blue Eagles, Padiz pulled away to take the first set, 21-11. Multiple errors on Busuego’s end would allow the Bulldogs to cruise past the first set, 21-13, securing the sweep for NU.
In light of the loss, Team Captain Arthur Salvado Jr. says that the team is looking forward to facing the Bulldogs again in the Finals, stressing that the team has a lot to give in the championship. “They’re strong, but we can also say that Ateneo is strong. What counts most is we bring out the best of each other,” Salvado shared.
The Blue Eagles will look to bounce back against the NU Bulldogs in the Finals tomorrow, November 13, as the Blue and White seek its first Men’s Badminton title since Season 76.
Team-Tie score: Ateneo-NU: 0-5
First Men’s Singles: Zafra def. Torres: 4-21, 7-21
Second Men’s Singles: Velasco def. Vanzuela: 9-21, 4-21
First Men’s Doubles: Villabrille and Padiz def. Torres and Maliwat: 9-21, 9-21
Second Men’s Doubles: Velasco and Zafra def. Vanzuela and Bagasbas: 14-21, 17-21
Third Men’s Singles: Padiz def. Busuego: 11-21, 13-21
