FINISHING AS runners-up last season, the Ateneo Men’s Badminton team opened a new chapter in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines with a win over Adamson University (AdU), securing the team-tie at a 4-1 scoreline on Thursday, September 21, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

A victory in the competition’s opening matchup places the Blue Eagles at a 1-0 win-loss record in the tournament, with strong showings from several veteran shuttlers boosting a convincing team performance. The squad managed to clinch their first team-tie of the season in the first three games, dropping four sets throughout the match.

Senior and captain Carlo Remo featured in the first men’s singles, taking on Adamson University’s Elben Concha. Despite back and forth action in the first set, Remo managed to pull away early and gain the upper hand to take the set at 21-16. The team captain then made easy work of his opponent, defeating Concha in the second at 21-11.

Veteran Clarence Filart faced a tougher challenge in the second men’s singles matchup, going head to head with Kevin Fabros. Filart breezed through the first set, claiming the win at 21-16, but was beaten handily by an energetic comeback from Fabros in the second. However, despite turning the match around in the second set, Fabros failed to keep up the momentum, conceding the third set to Filart to put the Blue Eagles up two matches.

Remo teamed up with Patrick Gecosala in the first men’s doubles, clashing with the AdU duo of Concha and Joshua Antonio. With the overall victory on the line, serious intensity characterized the matchup, as the Adamson tandem prevailed in a heated first set at 19-21. Remo and Gecosala rallied back in the second, overcoming their opponents easily at 21-11 to level the playing field and set up a do-or-die third set.

Concha and Antonio took the upper hand throughout the third, with the Ateneo pair staying hot on their heels. After a series of deadlocks at 15-15, 19-19, and 21-21, Remo eventually matters into his own hands, sealing the third set with a smash at 24-22 to secure the team-tie for the Blue Eagles.

Having taken the team-tie, the Blue Eagles sent in Sean Chan to pair up with Filart to face Fabros and Jhonrick Macabenta in the second doubles match. The AdU duo claimed the first set at 16-21, with Chan and Macabenta then getting back into the game to win the second at 21-15. A decisive third set featured heated back-and-forth action that ultimately saw AdU claim their only win of the day. With the Blue Eagle tandem on the verge of a comeback, Fabros and Macabenta escaped the third set at 20-22, preventing an otherwise flawless victory for Ateneo.

Sophomore and former Rookie of the Year Keoni Asuncion took on Macabenta in the third singles match and claimed the squad’s fourth win in straight sets. Asuncion battered Macabenta with a string of drives and smashes, holding the AdU opponent to a 21-13, 21-16 scoreline to close out the day.

The Blue Eagles face De La Salle University on Sunday, September 24.

Match Score: Ateneo 4 AdU 1

Set Scores:

First Men’s Singles: 21-16, 21-11

Second Men’s Singles: 21-14, 15-21, 21-12

First Men’s Doubles: 19-21, 21-11, 24-22

Second Men’s Doubles: 16-21, 21-15, 20-22

Third Men’s Singles: 21-13, 21-16