THE ATENEO Men’s Badminton Team continued their winning ways as they put on a dominant showing against the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, 5-0, earlier today at the Centro Atletico Badminton Hall, Quezon City.

The Blue Eagles are now 3-0 in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 Men’s Badminton Tournament. 

Rookie Lyrden Laborte kicked things off in the first men’s singles match, taking on AdU’s CL Garcia. Despite a back-and-forth contest and a couple of lead changes all throughout, Laborte would give Ateneo its first team-tie point in straight sets, 21-15 and 21-12.

[First Men’s Singles]

Laborte gives Ateneo the first team-tie point as he dominates the end of the second set!

Ateneo: 21 ADU: 12

Team-tie Score:
Ateneo: 1 ADU: 0#UAAPBadminton pic.twitter.com/JyP27OnO6m

— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) November 5, 2022

Ateneo Co-Captain Arthur Salvado Jr. was featured in the second men’s singles match, squaring off against AdU’s Nathaniel Acedillo. Multiple faults on Salvado’s end allowed Adamson to take a narrow 6-8 lead, but the Blue Eagle quickly recovered and pulled away for a 21-13 first-set victory. Despite an early 2-0 deficit, Salvado maintained his composure and sealed the second set, 21-12.

Salvado’s co-captain Bryan Bernardo then partnered with rookie Charles Bagasbas to face AdU’s CL Garcia and Harold Bonilla in the first men’s doubles match. A string of aggressive attacks allowed the Katipunan-based pair to take the first set, 21-14. Bernardo and Bagasbas then found themselves in a heated battle in the second set, but wasted little time and sealed the 21-14 victory and the team-tie triumph for Ateneo.

[Second Men’s Doubles]

Laborte’s attack gives Ateneo their fourth team-tie point!

Ateneo: 21 ADU: 15

Team-tie Score:
Ateneo: 4 ADU: 0#UAAPBadminton pic.twitter.com/Q3wErdiGrj

— Vito Martin (@Vito_TheGUIDON) November 5, 2022

Laborte and Salvado would then return to the court to face AdU’s Noel Hernandez and Garriel Ganoy in the second men’s doubles match. The Blue and White maintained their advantage en route to straight-set wins, tallying 21-15 in the first and 21-15 in the second.

Bernardo returned to take on AdU’s Harold Bonilla in the third men’s singles match to conclude the day. Despite a close matchup in the early stages, Bernardo went on the attack to take the first set at 21-13. The second set saw a back-and-forth contest between the two teams all throughout the match, but Bernardo escaped with a 21-17 second set victory, sealing the squad’s first sweep of the season.

With their sights set on their Katipunan-based rivals, the University of the Philippines (UP), co-captain Bernardo stressed the importance of enjoying the game in the process of winning. “Minsan, parang gusto namin win lang ng win na nakakalimutan namin mag enjoy, so ayun  talaga yung importante (Sometimes, we just want to win but we forget to enjoy, so that’s important), to have fun and enjoy the game.” he shared. 

The Blue Eagles will look to continue their dominant run as they take on the UP Fighting Maroon Smashers on Sunday, November 6.

Team-Tie score: Ateneo-AdU: 5-0

First Men’s Singles: Laborte def. Garcia: 21-15, 21-12

Second Men’s Singles: Salvado def. Acedillo: 21-13, 21-12

First Men’s Doubles: Bernardo and Bagasbas def. Garcia and Bonilla: 21-14, 21-14

Second Men’s Doubles: Laborte and Salvado def. Hernandez and Ganoy: 21-15, 21-15

Third Men’s Singles: Bernardo def. Bonilla: 21-13, 21-17