THE ATENEO lady shuttlers claimed a crucial victory against University of the Philippines (UP) three games to two on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Though Ateneo lost at the hands of UP in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) opener by an overwhelming 1-4, they claimed a 3-2 team-tie to gain the advantage in a best of three finals showdown against the Maroons.
Coming from a convincing win in her singles and doubles matches against De La Salle University, Ateneo Lady Eagles Team Captain Bianca Carlos took on the responsibility of representing the Blue and Whites in the first match of the day of the women’s division. UP Team Captain Alcala represented the Maroons in the first singles match. Carlos kicked-off the team-tie with a three-point lead in the first set (3-0) and only added to her advantage by the interval (11-4). She finished the set comfortably at 21-11 and continued her dominant display in the second set. Another convincing interval lead (11-5) compounded pressure on the Maroons skipper who eventually conceded defeat in the second set, 21-11. Ateneo led with a 1-0 team-tie advantage as a result.
Relinquishing her third singles role, singles specialist Samantha Ramos represented Ateneo against UP’s Castilo. Ramos found herself trailing by five after playing a total of seven points (1-6), but she managed to gain ground, as she secured a close position at the interval (10-11). The Lady Eagle took the lead shortly after (12-11), but could not seem to hold a three-point lead she established in the closing stages of the set. A tense rally that could have given either of the players a set point, finished with Ramos taking the advantage and eventually finishing the set (21-19). Now beaming with confidence, it was Ramos who took a convincing lead at the interval (11-5). While Castilo recovered to pressure Ramos at the very end of the set (20-19), Ramos stayed calm and collected to disallow a deuce and give Ateneo a 2-0 team-tie advantage.
Carlos took the court along with Chanelle Lunod, as the duo aimed to round up a quick victory for the Blue and White. Though they held a lead at both the interval (11-10) and closing stages of the match (16-15), they could not maintain their composure to finish off the set, conceding it to UP’s duo, Alcala and Francisco (18-21). The second set saw UP run riot with a 11-21 win to give the Maroons a foothold in the team-tie.
Castilo and Inlayo compounded pressure on Ateneo with their continual barraging of Lady Eagles Geva De Vera and Cassie Lim as they secured another doubles win with set scores of 12-21 and 16-21. The 2-2 team-tie score was to be decided by former Lady Eagles captain Trixie Malibiran against UP’s Bernardo.
The first set of the crucial final singles match saw the two shuttlers go neck-and-neck, as they looked to hand either of their teams the advantage. Malibiran found an opening, claiming a four-point lead (9-5) before securing her lead at the interval, 11-8. Bernardo was keen to get on equal footing with the lady shuttler was able to tie the score duet to unforced errors on Malibiran’s part (16-16). The Ateneo lady shuttler managed to get back to winning ways just in time, as she took the lead in the match with a 21-17 win in the first set. Malibiran’s confidence carried her to an amazing 11-4 interval lead and improving as the match wore on. She secured a match point with an amazing drop and won the match in style with a huge smash down the middle. The set finished 21-9 and the team-tie, 3-2, in favor of Ateneo.
The Ateneo lady shuttlers will be looking to take the championships in game two against UP on Wednesday, October 12, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
