Champions at last. After falling short last year, the Blue Shuttlers sieze gold in this season’s UAAP Badminton Championship. Photo by Joseph S. Angan
ONE POINT at a time: whether it be trailing a deficit, pulling away from deuce in the third game of the deciding third singles matchup, or overcoming the torment of cramps. This is the mantra that the Ateneo Shuttlers live by: a mindset that has reaped a Gold and Silver finish for the Blue and Lady Shuttlers, respectively. The Ateneo Shuttlers proved their determination, as both teams overcame a twice-to-beat series in the semi-finals. Lady Shuttler, Lisa Encarnacion, put it best by saying, “If we had to beat them five times over, we would”.
Ascent of the Eagle
Having fallen short the last two seasons, the Blue Shuttlers have made an eventual rise to the top, led by the nation’s number one shuttler, Toby Gadi. After the previous season’s disappointing conclusion, Coach Kennie Assuncion said, “This is how the boys are meant to win it”, expressing that it would be their lessons from hard lost battles, and accumulated growth, that would eventually set them apart.
True enough, the Blue Shuttlers have emerged from third and second place finishes in the previous two seasons; to taking the crown in the 74th UAAP Badminton Championships.
“[The Blue Shuttlers] just wanted it more,” Gadi said following the Blue Shuttler’s championship performance against the NU Bulldogs.
Situational Swap
Unfortunately, for the Lady Shuttlers, in an ironic occurrence of reversal, it would be them who, barely, missed out on a championship, falling to the UE Amazons in the final. Despite the loss, the Lady Shuttlers had a breakthrough performance—sporting a 6-1 win-loss record at the end of the round robin, and prevailing over the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws in a twice-to-beat semi-finals series.
Bolstered by the dominating rookie sensations, Gelita Castilo and Dia Magno, the Lady Shuttlers were the dark horses to win it all. Yet, the loss in the finals proved that the number one women’s doubles pair in the country, alone, cannot bring the Lady Shuttlers to a championship.
However, the vast improvement the Lady Shuttlers have already achieved, finishing second from seventh the year before, attests to the progress that they have already made.
But as exemplified by the Blue Shuttlers’ journey to the championship, it is the setbacks, the anguish of having been so close to winning, that will eventually drive the Lady Shuttlers’ to a future championship.
Unsung Heroes
Although a lot of the praise go to the mainstays of the Ateneo Shuttlers, namely Gadi, Castilo and Magno, there are the contributions of those who go unnoticed or have shown great improvement.
Pawee Natividad, last season’s most promising shuttler on the Ateneo squad, has developed into a household name in the UAAP singles ranks. Despite a two game slump in the third and fourth round of the round robin, Pawee finished with a 5-2 singles record, and went on to go undefeated (3-0) in the finals rounds. Pawee’s play has intensified, showcasing greater explosiveness on the offensive end, and a better ability to increase the pace of the game. His presence will be vital to the Blue Shuttlers next season.
Following in Pawee’s footsteps, his brother Justin Natividad has similarly shown flashes of potential this season, and will hopefully step-up in caliber next season.
On the Lady Shuttlers squad, veteran UAAP athlete and team captain, Lisa Encarnacion has come out big for the ladies in blue on numerous occasions. Notorious for ending crucial bouts in dramatic fashion, Encarnacion has registered significant victories this season. She was responsible for ending a seven-year losing streak against the De La Salle University Lady Archers, ousting Danica Bolos in the deciding third singles matchup, and initiating a 3-0 sweep of the Lady Tamaraws in the semi-final, which brought the Lady Shuttlers to the final.
Behind the Scenes
Another factor, unknown to many, behind the Ateneo Shuttlers’ success is the influence of three Indonesian sparring partners: Miko Bhum, Ferdian Fascal and Hendra Mulyono. The three Indonesians hail from the renowned Djarum Badminton Club. Mulyono is a former member of the Indonesian National Badminton team.
Throughout the season, they have been assisting the Shuttlers by developing new tactics and correcting their form.
According to Magno, “[They] helped us greatly by developing our skills, as well as honing the ones we already have. They also gave us tips on how we could win and get the most out of every game, but most of all they became our friends, which ultimately became the highlight of how they became such a big part of our success.”
Outbox
Three veterans—Paolo Sunga, Carla Lizardo and Encarnacion—will be graduating this school year, and their services will surely be missed. However, with more playing slots available next season, the emerging Ateneo Shuttlers will be expected to step up to fill the void.
