After a series of first and second runner-up finishes dating back to Season 77, the Ateneo Women’s Badminton Team finally put an end to its championship drought. Behind the leadership of two-time co-MVPs Chanelle Lunod and Geva de Vera, the Lady Eagles snagged back-to-back championships in Seasons 81 and 82.
After the departure of Phenom Bianca Carlos and several veteran players in Season 80, the team entered Season 81 with all-time low expectations. “We felt like everyone thought we’d be easier to beat that year. With just six players and low expectations, we were not in the spotlight,” recalled Lunod.
However, as it turned out, the graduation of Carlos did very little to dampen the competitiveness of the Lady Eagles. Their elimination round play gifted them with a 4-2 win-loss record, pitting them against the second-seeded National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs in the semi-finals.
Facing a twice-to-beat disadvantage, the Lady Eagles pulled off a 3-1 team-tie win in game one to force a deciding game two. However, a sluggish start from the Lady Eagles in the second game pushed them to the brink of elimination, as they trailed, 1-2, going into the second doubles matchup.
With their backs against the wall, the Lunod-de Vera tandem refused to be defeated in their doubles match against NU’s Sarah Barredo and Thea Pomar. Despite being down nine points, the duo did not relent as they worked towards playing the match one shot at a time.
“Everyone thought we were going to lose that team tie, [but] we just took it one point at a time until eventually, we caught up and were able to take the game,” recalled Lunod. Their success in the match was a turning point in the championship run as it allowed Team Captain Samantha Ramos to seal the win with a three-set victory in the third singles match.
In game one of the finals, the Lady Eagles survived a thrilling five-match game against University of the Philippines (UP) to take an early 1-0 lead in the finals. With momentum on their side, the Lady Eagles raced to an early 2-0 lead against the defending champions in game two.
With victory just one match away, the championship all boiled down to Lunod and de Vera’s doubles match. The tandem commanded the third game of the team-tie, causing emotions to soar high for the Lady Eagles even before the match was completed. After dominating the first set, 21-10, the pair maintained their composure and clinched the final set, 21-9, to ultimately bring home the crown.
However, one championship for the Blue and White was not enough for Lunod and de Vera as they entered the following year as co-captains of the team.
“We were more confident compared to the previous season. In [Season] 81, our goal was to prove people wrong. The following year, they knew what we could do.”
– Two-time MVP Chanelle Lunod
Having won the previous season via an incredible Cinderella run, the Lady Eagles entered Season 82 with a new identity. Unlike the previous year when the team was considered the underdogs, the Lady Eagles were now coming in as defending champions.
As Ateneo marched into the season as the team to beat, their bid to defend the crown boasted a talented roster with super rookie Mika De Guzman in the lineup. “We were more confident compared to the previous season. In [Season] 81, our goal was to prove people wrong. The following year, they knew what we could do,” shared Lunod.
Throughout Season 82, the Lady Eagles continued to govern the court, finishing their Season 82 campaign with a spotless 9-0 win-loss record. With a back-to-back championship under their belts, Lunod and de Vera have paved the way for a new era of Ateneo Women’s Badminton to flourish.
