THE ATENEO Lady Eagles’ storybook run comes to a close as they lost against thrice-to-beat University of the Philippines (UP), 1-3 on Saturday, October 17 at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

The key moment of the game was during the second doubles match, when Geva De Vera and Janel Dihiansan of the Blue and White faced off against Lady Maroons Paola Beatriz Bernardo and Mary Ann Maranon. Both teams forced each other into a third and deciding set after scores of 21-16 in favor of the Ateneo and 21-13 in favor of UP.

Trading blows with the Ateneo until the 13-all mark, Bernardo then went on a furious 7-0 run that brought the Lady Maroons all the way to match point. However, in a moment that fully encapsulated Season 78 for these Lady Eagles, Dihiansan stood her ground and countered with her own 4-0 run amidst a suddenly tensed UP crowd. Yet despite the lady shuttlers’ best efforts, the defending champions proved too much for the Ateneo pair and they final ceded the set, 17-21, as well as the gold.

The Lady Eagles narrowly missed the championship but Coach Kennevic Asuncion remains proud of his players for stepping up to the challenge despite the odds; the lady shuttlers had to gut it out with a twice-to-beat De La Salle University before entering the finals in a state of near exhaustion. To compound their situation as underdogs, the Eagles also endured anterior cruciate ligament injures to Team Captain Trixie Malibiran and freshman recruit Sam Ramos.

“We are very positive naman about [the season],” Asuncion said. “Umabot parin tayo ng finals at na-maintain natin yung status natin from last year (We still reached the finals and maintained our status from last year as first runners up).”

Meanwhile, before the start of their female counterparts’ match, the Blue Eagles were also awarded second runners up for Season 78–a repeat of last year’s finish.