AS THE sole rookie of the Ateneo Men’s Badminton team and the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 Rookie of the Year, Enrico Keoni Asuncion is one to watch for the future. The blue shuttler managed to earn his first UAAP victory in his debut singles match against Far Eastern University’s Balcaso and make an appearance in the finals game against National University.
Asuncion’s stunning success in his first major competition at the collegiate level can partly be attributed to his smooth transition from Blue and Gold at Xavier School to Blue and White at Ateneo de Manila University.
Asuncion managed to garner a number of medals and awards during high school such as silver in the US Junior Nationals Under-17 category and he placed sixth overall in the Under-19 category in 2014. He was also chosen to represent NCR in Palarong Pambansa in 2016, managing to earn a silver medal in the team event as well as being ranked first in the NCR division meet of the national competition.
“I didn’t have any difficulties making the transition from high school to college,” Asuncion admits. “What’s different here is that the coaches, it’s a full-on job for them. You can go to them and ask them if they’re having difficulties. They’ll really address your problem, one-on-one.”
The Rookie of the Year is also thankful for his new teammates who have been very welcoming of him, with Asuncion singling out blue shuttlers Team Captain Sean Chan, a fellow Xavier alumnus, as an important teammate who helped him make the transition. “He’s a really nice guy and a good team captain. He always sets an example [for the other players].”
In terms of academics, Asuncion believes that his past experience as a student-athlete in grade school and high school has helped him deal with the pressure of juggling school work and badminton.
“I’ve been immersed in the student-athlete culture since I was in grade school because I started playing at a really young age. Right now, I’m managing pretty well. It’s all about time management.”
Asuncion also made clear the role his family has played in his badminton career and his impressive season. The blue shuttler credits Ateneo head coaches Kennie and Kennevic Asuncion as the reason he was exposed to the sport from a very young age, stating “I got into badminton because of my whole family. It started with my grandfather, then it passed on to my uncle and mother, and then to me.”
Despite the family connection to the sport, Asuncion was keen to emphasize that he continues to play badminton because of his affinity to the sport. “When I was a kid, I was really exposed to badminton and I wanted to try it so I did. Up until now, it’s really my decision to play. No one’s forcing me, my parents aren’t forcing, it’s my decision to play.”
