AND STILL. The Ateneo Lady Eagles successfully concluded their electrifying campaign with their their second-straight championship after soaring past the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 3-0, to sweep their best-of-three Finals series, 2-0, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Women’s Badminton Tournament on Saturday, October 5, at the Camp Crame Gymnasium in Quezon City.
Team Captain Chanelle Lunod opened the proceedings against DLSU’s Iyah Sevilla in the crucial First Singles match. Lunod immediately found her groove in the first set as she built a comfortable 18-10 lead. Sevilla tried to make a comeback through a series of placings and cut the lead to 14-19, but a drop shot from the savvy veteran Lunod ended the set in favor of Ateneo, 21-14. Lunod then blazed her way to a 21-6 demolition in the second set after an error-plagued performance from Sevilla, giving the Lady Eagles their first team-tie.
The Second Singles encounter echoed a similar tune as standout rookie Mika De Guzman went head-to-head with Lady Archer Kanna Baba. De Guzman shook off a so-so start after trailing 5-7 in the first set. The Lady Eagle retaliated and sank in a barrage of long shots to build a 21-13 set win. In a close second set, a fueled De Guzman continued to pounce with a plethora of long shot placings en route to a 21-18 finish, handing Ateneo their second tie.
Veteran mainstays Lunod and Joella De Vera took the court one last time against DLSU’s Palma Cruz and Shaynne Boloron to ensure their final ticket to clinch the enticing championship crown. Despite early-set jitters after opening the first set 0-4, the ladies in Blue and White found their footing and showcased their on-court chemistry, as Lunod and De Vera took turns in unleashing sharp smashes to finish the first set, 21-10. The co-captains never let their guard down and iced the second set for the Lady Eagles, 21-15, to seal their UAAP campaign with a phenomenal 9-0 win-loss record and Ateneo’s first title of the season.
This marks the fifth overall championship for the Lady Eagles and their second twopeat after their triumphs in UAAP Seasons 75 and 76. Last year’s Co-Most Valuable Players (MVP) Lunod and De Vera were once again hailed as season 82’s Co-MVPs, while De Guzman was named the Rookie of the Year.
Team-tie Score: Ateneo 3 DLSU 0
Match Scores:
First Singles: Chanelle Lunod (Ateneo) defeated Iyah Sevilla (DLSU) 2-0: 21-14, 21-16.
Second Singles: Mika De Guzman (Ateneo) defeated Kanna Baba (DLSU) 2-0: 21-13, 21-18.
First Doubles: Chanelle Lunod and Joella De Vera (Ateneo) defeated Palma Cruz and Shaynne Boloron (DLSU) 2-0: 21-10 21-15
