THE ATENEO Blue Shuttlers succumbed to National University (NU), 2-3, and dropped Game 2 of the Men’s Badminton Finals on Sunday, September 9, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC) Badminton Hall.
The Blue Shuttlers were coming off an impressive Game 1 performance where they got a convincing 3-0 victory over top-seeded NU. Ateneo’s win practically cancelled out NU’s thrice-to-beat advantage and reduced the Finals into a best-of-three series.
There was no difference in Game 2 with respect to the match-ups fielded by both coaches. Toby Gadi once again took on Jason Oba-Ob in the opening match. Gadi found his rhythm early on, building a 10-point lead before eventually taking the first game, 21-15. Gadi’s momentum carried on to the second game where the reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player put Ateneo up 1-0 in the team tie with a 21-13 victory.
The second singles match once again featured Justin Natividad and NU’s Andrei Babad. It was a different day, but the same result, between the two shuttlers. Natividad edged out Babad in a close first game, 21-19. The second game, however, was a lot more one-sided, as Natividad gained an early 7-1 advantage. Babad found a way to get within three points, but Natividad responded with a 9-4 run to put Team Ateneo two points ahead in the team tie.
Game 2 was turning out to be a repeat of the two teams’ meeting yesterday, but JoperEscueta and Aries Delos Santos had no plans of bowing down to Ateneo just yet. The NU duo found a way to keep their team alive as they managed to get the better of Toby Gadi and PaweeNatividad, winning in consecutive matches, 21-15, 21-19.
With the veteran duo of Gadi and Natividad coming up short, Arlo Madrid and JC Carlos were tasked with closing out NU in the second doubles match of the afternoon. The relatively young duo, however, had a difficult time against NU’s experienced tandem of Babad and Oba-Ob and dropped both games 6-21, 8-21.
With the win, NU had evened things up at two matches apiece and forced a deciding fifth match between Ateneo c0-captain PaweeNatividad and NU’s top shuttlerEscueta.
The first game between Natividad and Escueta was a treat to those in attendance as Natividad was able to seize a 21-19 victory in a game that saw 10 ties and eight lead changes.
Escueta would respond in the second game, though, building a small lead that he would never relinquish before taking the game, 21-16.
With the outcome of Game 2 in the balance, Escueta was able to outlast Pawee Natividad in the final game, winning 21-11. Natividad played with heart, but appeared to be exhausted by the third game. The veteran shuttler suffered cramps in the early stages of the final game and the pain undoubtedly hampered his performance in the deciding game.
The Blue Shuttlers’ loss puts NU one win away from clinching the title.
The boys in blue will try to extend their season and their hopes of defending their crown on Wednesday, September 12, as they engage NU for Game 3 of the Finals at 9:00AM in the RMSC Badminton Hall.
