SHOWCASING ANOTHER impressive performance, the Ateneo Lady Eagles improved to a clean 3-0 standing after comfortably besting the University of the East (UE), 5-0, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Women’s Badminton Tournament on Sunday, September 22, at the Camp Crame Gymnasium in Quezon City. 

Team Captains Chanelle Lunod and Joella De Vera set the tone early for the Lady Eagles as they gave Ateneo a 2-0 team-tie slate after easily dispatching their matchups. Savvy veteran Lunod immediately made her presence known after she held UE’s Patrice Reyes to just six points in the first set in a 21-6 outing. Lunod never let her steam cool as she breezed past Reyes with a 21-10 second set. 

De Vera sustained Ateneo’s momentum as she bested Lady Warrior Graziel Cabriga in two sets. De Vera shrugged off a slow start after trailing 3-6 in the first set, grabbing an 11-7 advantage off of a knifing smash. De Vera, then, ended the opening set, 21-11, after an impressive 10-4 run. The co-captain turned in another sound performance in the second set, overpowering Cabriga, 21-6. 

Lady Eagles Mika De Guzman and Qianxi Orillanera continued Ateneo’s dominance, using their chemistry to take down UE’s Reyes and Justine Amposta in two quick sets. The first was a staggering 21-3 triumph before sealing a 21-10 second set to confer Ateneo their third team tie. 

The Atenean duo of Samantha Ramos and Geia De Vera showed no mercy against Lady Warriors Cabriga and Kaye Palot in a 21-4 first set drubbing. The Lady Warriors tried to bounce back in the second set after leading 9-5, but the Lady Eagles proved to be too much as they tallied a 6-0 run to regain the lead, 11-9. The second set finished 21-17 and gave Ateneo the 4-0 team-tie lead. 

After running out to an 11-3 advantage, Alyssa Roxas’ season debut for the Lady Eagles was cut short after UE’s Amposta slipped and went down with an unfortunate leg injury. The match finished 18-5 in favor of Ateneo and awarded another sweep to the Katipunan-based squad.

The Lady Eagles hope to continue their winning ways against the University of the Philippines (UP) on Tuesday, September 24, at the Centro Atletico Stadium, Quezon City. 

Team-tie score: Ateneo 5 UE 0 

Set scores:

1st Singles: Chanelle Lunod (Ateneo) defeated Patrice Reyes (UE) 2-0: 21-6, 21-10

2nd Singles: Joella De Vera (Ateneo) defeated Graziel Cabriga (UE)  2-0: 21-11, 21-6

3rd Singles: Alyssa Roxas (Ateneo) defeated Justine Amposta (UE) 1-0: 18-5

1st Doubles: Mika De Guzman and Qianxi Orillanera (Ateneo) defeated Patrice Reyes and Justine Amposta (UE) 2-0: 21-3, 21-10 

2nd Doubles: Samantha Ramos and Geia De Vera (Ateneo) defeated Graziel Cabriga and Kaye Palot (UE) 2-0: 21-4, 21-17