Photo by Joseph S. Angan

The Blue and Lady Shuttlers have proven once again that Ateneo is a force to reckon with in UAAP Badminton. The men’s and women’s badminton teams cemented their spot in the upper echelon of college badminton after finishing 1st and 2nd respectively in Season 74.

In a jam-packed Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall on September 20, Team Ateneo made one last bid for supremacy, as the Blue Shuttlers faced National University (NU) and the Lady Shuttlers slugged it out against the University of the East (UE).

“Our time is now”

After coming up short and finishing 3rd and 2nd in the last couple of years, the Blue Shuttlers were due for a breakthrough this season. True enough, their time indeed turned out to be now.

The boys in blue defeated second seeded NU, three matches to one, to end an eight-year title drought. Their last championship coming in Season 66, this year’s victory was arguably the sweetest.

Pawee Natividad started of festivities for the Blue and White, taking on Aries Delos Santos in the opening match. Delos Santos raced to an early 1-0 game lead after taking the first with a 21-17 win.

Despite dropping the first game, Natividad’s offense was automatic once he got a clear look for a smash and this is exactly what he capitalized on in the second game, eventually tying the match with a poignant 21-10 victory.

The all-important third game proved to be a close affair early on, but the Blue Shuttler took the lead for good at 6-5 with a vicious smash. Natividad went on to take a 21-12 win and locked-up the first match of the morning with a drop shot that Delos Santos couldn’t get to in time.

Skipper Toby Gadi entered his match with an undefeated record but his encounter with NU mainstay Joper Escueta turned out to be a grind. The Bulldog brought his A-game to the finals, seemingly unfazed in the second match despite facing a more heralded player.

Gadi was one point away from the half-game break when a questionable call was made by the referee. In a rally that should have ended when Gadi’s shot hit the court untouched by his opponent, play continued on with Escueta eventually seizing the point. The turn of events gave NU the momentum, as Escueta went on to tie the game at 10 points apiece. The game was tied 7 times after the break in what turned out to be an intense match, which the Ateneo skipper ultimately secured, 24-22.

The second game was once again neck-and-neck as Escueta put a dent on Gadi’s unblemished record, stealing the canto, 21-19. It was the first singles game Gadi had conceded to an opponent his entire UAAP playing career.

Counted upon to deliver for the team, the Philippine No. 1 answered the call once again in the sudden death game with a 21-17 triumph to give Ateneo a wider 2-0 match cushion in the tie.

The tandem of Paolo Sunga and Justin Natividad were looking for the knockout blow in the first doubles match of the morning, and seemed to be on track after securing the first game 21-19, but the Bulldog duo of Escueta and Andrei Babad had other things in mind. The pair kept NU’s hopes alive by winning the next two games 21-12, 21-15 to close the gap and Ateneo’s match lead.

Looking to shut the door on NU’s title aspirations, veterans Toby Gadi and Pawee Natividad squared off against Delos Santos and Sonny Montilla in the second doubles match. The first game saw the blue tandem trail almost throughout the entire game. The score was knotted at 16-all when Ateneo finally took the lead off a Gadi drive. The rest of the game was close but Gadi and Natividad were able to eke out a 21-18 victory.

Fighting for their lives, the Bulldogs kept things interesting in the second game, leading by as much as five points. Coach Kennie Asuncion’s troops though were determined to end their title drought and went on a mini run to tie the game at 15-all.

The elder Natividad then connected on a shot that blitzed between the NU pair which gave Ateneo the lead for good at 18-17. Soon after, Gadi secured championship point with a shot that turned out to be the final nail in NU’s coffin, putting the Blue Shuttlers on top of the UAAP Men’s Badminton world. With the title-clinching shot, the national team mainstay not only secured the trophy for Ateneo, but also assured himself of the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.

Coach Asuncion was the masterful maestro behind the fine-tuned orchestra that was the Blue Shuttlers’ season, and she rightfully deserved the Coach of the Year plum that was given to her at the awarding ceremonies. Of course, Coach Alma Ledesma mustn’t be forgotten, as she too was instrumental in Ateneo’s run to the championship. In fact, Asuncion was insisting that Ledesma accompany her to receive the award as a pair, but the latter’s modesty got the better of her.

From 7th to 2nd

Photo by Joseph S. Angan

The Blue Shuttlers sat casually in the stands, sporting their new championship trophy, as they waited for the Lady Shuttlers to follow suite in their finals bout against the UE Amazons. Coming off a stellar performance, where they overcame a twice-to-beat advantage to beat the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, the Lady Shuttlers were up to the task and ready to reap their just desserts.

However, despite turning heads all season long with their winning ways, the UAAP Women’s Badminton Championship would not find its way to Katipunan this season.

The Amazons got the better of the team tie draw, and won the finals bout 3-2 against the Lady Shuttlers.

The team tie saw the Lady Shuttlers’ star rookies, Gelita Castilo and Dia Magno, taking the first and second singles, and second doubles positions. Unsurprisingly, Castilo disposed of UE’s May Pamorada in a 21-18, 21-5 performance. Pamorada virtually gave up early into the second game, sporting an uninspired and sluggish style of play.

A follow up win from Magno would’ve put the Lady Shuttlers at a comfortable 2-0 match lead, setting up the rookies for an assured win in the second doubles, assuming the tie would go that far.

Unfortunately, Magno was on the losing end of a highly contested, deciding third game in the second singles matchup. Magno lost to Rochelle Andres of UE, 16-21, 21-14, 19-21, despite her display of offensive superiority all throughout the match. After coming back from a slow start in the first game, Magno would send Andres diving for her stifling drives and smashes. Yet, Magno’s powerful array of shots wouldn’t be enough today, UAAP veteran Andres was able to pull away at the latter part of the third game, eventually winning 19-21.

With the scored tied, the Amazons got the 2-1 match lead as Fatima Cruz and Kimberley Gatpolintan won 21-9, 21-13 against Lady Shuttlers Carla Lizardo and Mikee Roxas. However, the Amazons’ lead didn’t last long, as the top-ranked doubles pair in the country, Castilo and Magno, equalized the score once again at 2-2, winning 22-20, 21-12 against Pamorada and Andres, forcing a winner-take-all third singles match.

Team Captain Lisa Encarnacion was matched up against UE’s strongest in Fatima Cruz, and the winner would determine the season champion. Although Encarnacion exhibited a relentlessly fighting spirit, Cruz, who has been a member of the Philippine National Team, had command of the game. The UE shuttler, who would go on to gain MVP honors, won the match 21-15, 21-18, giving the Amazons the UAAP Season 74 Women’s Badminton Championship.

The Lady Shuttlers finish at second place, showing a vast improvement from their seventh place finish in Season 73.

Rookie sensation Gelita Castilo was named tournament Rookie of the Year, though few doubt she would have nabbed MVP honors had the Lady Shuttlers won the championship.