In the clear. Lisa Encarnacion and the rest of the Ateneo Badminton Team have shown ominous form in the first six ties of the season. Photo by Joseph S. Angan.
THEIR TIME is now.
From a 1-6 win-loss record at the bottom of the UAAP Season 73 standings, to a 4-0 winning streak that has established them as formidable final four contenders—the season is far from over, and already the Lady Shuttlers have surpassed last year’s results and exceeded all expectations.
“We made a statement last week and we’re not going to let that go easily. Not at all,” said Team Captain Lisa Encarnacion after her historic victory over Danica Bolos, which ended a seven-year winless streak against the La Salle Lady Archers.
Fluid rotation
The instant impact of rookies Gelita Castilo and Dia Magno on this season’s campaign is undeniable. The number one ranked women’s doubles pair in the nation—initially brought on to pull up the team—have become the base of the Lady Shuttlers. Although the two rookies have yet to play as a pair, their contributions have spread over both the singles and doubles divisions.
“Putting them together is a sure win, but the other doubles pair would be much weaker,” said Head Coach Kennie Assuncion.
An undefeated singles record after six ties—and being dubbed “The female Toby Gadi”—is a testament to Castilo’s dominance. Her all-around adeptness has proved to be too much for her singles counterparts. Yet, more than anything, it is Castilo’s ability to dictate the pace of the game that gets her the wins.
Her pairings with Encarnacion and Mikee Roxas in the doubles division have found some success, with a 3-3 win-loss record after the sixth tie. Though the three losses were incurred while being paired with Roxas, the tandem has shown promise in being an offensive powerhouse, but lacks integration on the defensive end.
Thus far, Magno, or known by teammates as “Diakssk” for her brute hitting, sports a 4-2 doubles record with veteran Carla Lizardo. The rookie’s aggressive net play, coupled with Lizardo’s presence in the backcourt, has made for an effective combination. Although competitors have pushed the pair to three-game matches, it is their knack for finishing strong that sets them apart.
Commenting on the winning streak early in the season, Asuncion said, “I teach the girls not to look at themselves as undefeated, and to take things one game at a time.”
Despite being virtually untouchable on the onset, the Lady Shuttlers eventually showed some vulnerability, succumbing to the FEU Lady Tamaraws—in a faceoff that could’ve gone either way—for their only loss of the season. However, the Lady Shuttlers bounced back, winning over the UST Tigresses.
Going into the last phase of the season, the Lady Shuttlers still have more obstacles to overcome. Yet, what is certain is that these ladies in blue will continue to fight just as hard as when they started, if not more than ever before.
Crafty at the net. With the postseason looming close, Paolo Sunga and the Blue Shuttlers will do everything in their power to gain a shot at the trophy they deserve. Photo by Joseph S. Angan.
Caught off guard
After going through the Season 73 elimination round almost unscathed, the Blue Shuttlers now find themselves in a precarious situation. For the first time in three seasons, Ateneo has lost twice before the postseason, sporting a 4-2 win-loss card after their first six ties.
“Definitely unexpected because, coming from last year, we placed second [overall] and then lost in the finals,” said veteran Paolo Sunga on their surprising start. “This is something different, and it serves as a challenge for us to be better.”
While Philippine number one Toby Gadi has been destroying opponents left and right, sporting a near-immaculate 11-1 singles-doubles match record, the shock losses may have gotten into his teammates’ heads.
So far, brothers Pawee and Justin Natividad have been playing below their pedigree, losing to a few players they know they can beat. With enough mental preparation though, these lapses in confidence and concentration can be overcome the next time they step onto the court.
Pound for pound, no other UAAP squad can boast a lineup of four players more skilled than the Blue Shuttlers’ Big Four of Gadi, Sunga and the Natividad brothers.
But as dominant as they are on paper, that’s where it ends for the Blue Shuttlers. This season, lack of depth is Ateneo’s main concern. No longer having the services of graduates Ap Sanchez and Rainier Tiam-Lee at her disposal, Coach Kennie is frugal when sending out young blood into the fray.
With matches held back-to-back every Saturday and Sunday, the Blue Shuttler quartet gets little time to rest—even against supposedly weaker teams. Then again, players will only get better if they gain on-court experience—and of course, their conditioning is anything but suspect. Still, too much reliance on the foursome might give opposing coaches more time to scout them, which can translate into trouble later on.
Confident in putting up a stronger campaign, Sunga said, “When you’re down, there’s no else to go but up.”
True enough, after whitewashing both Adamson and UP last weekend, the Blue Shuttlers have shown the dominance they need to win it all. In time, it won’t be surprising to see them prove that wounded dogs should never be counted out.
