THE ATENEO Blue Eagles added another point to the win column with a near shut-out of the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 Badminton Tournament on October 2, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Their 4-1 victory against Adamson comes on the heels of a rousing win over De La Salle University (DLSU) in their recent contest last September 30.
Keoni Asuncion started off the team-tie right for the blue shuttlers as he defeated Elben Concha in consecutive sets, 21-17, 23-21. The third-year Blue Eagle took control in the first set but nearly squandered a comfortable lead. Concha went on a five-point spurt late in the set until Asuncion showed great composure to fend off the comeback. The second set needed an extension to be decided, but Concha was doomed by two straight errors to give Ateneo a 1-0 lead in the team-tie.
Team Captain Carlo Remo added on to Ateneo’s team-tie lead in the second match, edging Adamson’s Kevin Fabros in three sets. Remo and Fabros were neck-and-neck early in the first set, but Remo pulled away after the interval to take the first set, 21-15. The second set featured a more determined Fabros, who edged out a narrow 19-21 set victory to force the third set. Remo, however, thoroughly controlled the deciding set. His smart play led to a 21-10 rout to take the match.
Adamson claimed their lone victory in the first doubles match of the day. Sean Chan and Fides Bagasbas fell in consecutive sets to Concha and Johnrick Macabenta. The Adamson duo made quick work of Chan and Bagasbas in a wire-to-wire first set victory, 14-21. Chan and Bagasbas then rallied with a fierce comeback in the do-or-die set, but errors cost them as Adamson won the set, 18-21, to trim Ateneo’s team-tie lead, 2-1.
Remo and Asuncion returned to the court against Antonio Sallan and Fabros for the fourth set, sealing the team-tie victory in resilient fashion. The duo of Remo and Asuncion cashed in on several Adamson errors, leading to a 21-12 win in the first set. They then dominated the rest of the way to win the second set, 21-14, snatching the team-tie victory.
With the team-tie victory already decided, Bagasbas avenged his loss in the first doubles match with a quick victory against Johnrick Macabenta to close out the day’s action. Bagasbas came out firing from the start and brought down Macabenta with long scoring runs and well-timed kills. Bagasbas kept firm control of both sets and never let go, leading to 21-10 and 21-7 wins respectively.
The team-tie win brings the blue shuttlers’ record a 3-1 slate in the season, and in a second place deadlock with University of the Philippines (UP). The Blue Eagles will have a chance to nab a solo second in their next team-tie against Season 80 finalists the UP Fighting Maroons, 8:00AM, Thursday, October 4, at the same venue.
Set Scores:
1st Singles: Keoni Asuncion def. Elben Concha, 21-17, 23-21
2nd Singles: Carlo Remo def. Kevin Fabros, 21-15, 19-21, 21-10
1st Doubles: Elben Concha & Johnrick Macabenta def. Fides Bagasbas & Sean Chan, 14-21, 18-21
2nd Doubles: Carlo Remo & Keoni Asuncion def. Antonio Sallan & Kevin Fabros, 21-12, 21-14
3rd Singles: Fides Bagasbas def. Johnrick Macabenta, 21-10, 21-7
