THE ATENEO Women’s Badminton Team (AWBT) dominated the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 4-1, earlier today at the Power Up Centro Atletico Badminton Hall in Quezon City.
This win allows Ateneo to maintain a pristine 5-0 record as they enter their third straight finals appearance in the UAAP tomorrow against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
Jochelle Alvarez opened the AWBT’s matchup today with a convincing win over DLSU’s Mia Manguilimotan in the first Women’s Singles match, 2-0. Despite a tight first set, Alvarez was able to close out the match with a seven-point win in the second set, scoring 21-19 and 21-14, respectively.
Team Captain Mika De Guzman picked up the intensity in the second Women’s Singles matchup with a dominating win over Katrina Togado, 2-0. The Season 82 Rookie of the Year managed to hold down La Salle’s scoring in each set to single digits, 21-7, 21-6.
Carrying over to Doubles action, Chanelle Lunod and Missy Cervantes secured today’s team-tie win in the first Women’s Doubles match against DLSU’s Palma Cruz and Shaynne Boloron, 2-0. Despite the efforts of the Green Archers to fight back in the second set, the Ateneo duo relied on hard-hitting smashes to get the win, 21-11, 21-17.
Geia de Vera and Maxine Olango maintained the Blue and White’s momentum in the second Women’s Doubles match against Jacqueline Pantoja and May Minuluan, 2-0. The de Vera and Olango-duo easily powered through the first set, 21-11. Despite a back-and-forth second set that saw both teams enter deuce-play, it was Ateneo’s defense that prevailed, ending the set at 23-21.
Feeby Ferrer closed off the AWBT’s showing today with a tight loss over Cruz, 0-2. Despite Ferrer’s efforts to tie the sets, unforced errors prevented any chances of a comeback.
The AWBT’s statement win over their UAAP rivals has set the tone for the team as they enter their third straight finals appearance in the UAAP. Their finals runs from Seasons 77 to 79 were the last times Ateneo had reached this level of play.
With hopes of attaining the AWBT’s first three-peat, Coach Kennie Asuncion-Robles shared her insights on what this win meant for the team as they enter tomorrow’s finals matchup: “Of course, we’re very excited. It’s a good result, [and] we aim to win in each team-tie. Now that we’ve done it, we feel like we’re ready for the finals.”
The Blue Eagles look to complete their perfect season in the finals tomorrow, November 13, at the Power Up Centro Atletico Badminton Hall. Their bid for a three-peat begins at 1:00 PM as they go against the UP Fighting Maroons in the Battle of Katipunan.
