THE ATENEO blue shuttlers defeated the University of the Philippines (UP) by a score of 3-1 in the University of Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 Badminton tournament on Saturday, October 8, 2016 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
To kick off today’s crucial semifinal team-tie, Ateneo’s Emilio Mangubat squared off against UP’s Leonardo in the first singles game of the day. The first set was tightly contested— with points being exchanged alternately between the two players up until the 18-point mark. However, a 3-0 Bernardo run would eventually see the first set fall in UP’s favor. The second set however, proved to be different as Mangubat switched gears to enter the interval with a six point lead (11-5). Mangubat then went on to win the set, (21-10) to force a third set. The third set saw UP enter the interval leading by three (11-8); however, a run from Mangubat would eventually force a back and forth set to see both teams eventually tied at 20-20. A net error from UP would eventually gift Ateneo the first set of the team-tie.
Succeeding Mangubat for the second singles game of the team-tie was veteran Clarence Filart, as he found himself squaring off against UP’s Bernardo. The first set was back and forth, with both players exchanging points up until the 19 point mark. Two consecutive smashes from Filart however, would seal the first set in Ateneo’s favor (21-19). The second set however proved to be different as Filart trailed Bernardo over the course of the game before eventually losing to a score of 21-13. The third set however, would prove to be different as Filart went on a 3-0 run to eventually enter the interval with a six point lead (11-6). Filart would continue to lead as he eventually increased the margin to eight (18-10). However, a surging 8-0 run from Bernardo would eventually see the game tied at 19-19, before Bernardo would eventually go on to close the game at 22-20.
With the team-tie now tied at 1-1, the Ateneo tandem of Hanz Bernardo and Emilio Mangubat stepped up to take on UP’s tandem of Pineda and Manuel. The first set saw both teams trading points up until the 19 point mark, However, a lob from Mangubat would eventually secure the first set for Ateneo (21-19). The second set turned out to be similar to the first as both teams once again traded points this time up until the 20 point mark. A Bernardo smash would seal the game for Ateneo at 22-20.
With only one game away from winning the team-tie, the Ateneo tandem of Carlo Remo and Patrick Gecosala aimed to wrap up the day quickly in their doubles match against UP’s tandem of BernardoMalelang. After a strong start from the Ateneo tandem, unforced errors saw Remo and Gecosala lose the first set by a score of 21-19. However, the pair soon rallied behind a barrage of aggresive smashes to win the next two games by a score of 21-15.
The blue shuttlers will once again face off against UP tomorrow, 9AM, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila to decide the opponent of the undefeated National University (NU) Bulldogs in the finals of UAAP Season 79.
