THE ATENEO Women’s Badminton Team (AWBT) secured a tight win over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 3-2, earlier today at the Power Up Centro Atletico Badminton Hall in Quezon City.

This win puts the Blue Eagles at a pristine record of 3-0 in the elimination round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85. 

Jochelle Alvarez opened the competition for the Blue and White, dropping the first Women’s Singles matchup against UP’s Althea Gonzalez, 1-2. Despite Alvarez’s efforts to make a comeback in the third set, Gonzalez was still able to hold off any chance of the Blue Eagle shifting the momentum.

Captain Mika de Guzman then helped the Blue Eagles bounce back from their first loss with a victory over the Fighting Maroons’ Janelle Andres in the second Women’s Singles matchup, 2-0. The reigning Rookie of the Year dominated UP, winning each set by a double-digit margin.

Meanwhile, Season 82 co-Most Valuable Player Chanelle Lunod partnered with Alvarez in Ateneo’s first Women’s Doubles bout. The duo continued the winning ways of the Blue and White by prevailing over UP’s Lea Inlayo and Susmita Ramos, 2-0. The Ateneo pair successfully controlled the majority of the matchup despite numerous aggressive runs from UP.

Co-captains Geia de Vera and de Guzman partnered up for the first time this season, faltering in a tight loss against UP’s Andrea Abalos and Thea Gonzales during the second Women’s Doubles match, 1-2. Ultimately, costly unforced errors from Ateneo allowed the Fighting Maroons to tie the matchup at two games apiece.

Lunod heroically won the third Women’s Singles matchup over UP’s Aldreen Concepcion, scoring 21-13 in the first set, followed by a 21-12 win. A masterclass performance by the super-senior allowed the Blue Eagles to win their third straight game of the season.

The Blue Eagles look to continue their undefeated streak this season in their matchup against the National University Bulldogs on November 6, 1:00 PM at the Power Up Centro Atletico Badminton Hall.

Team-Tie score: Ateneo-UP: 3-2

First Women’s Singles: Gonzalez def. Alvarez, 16-21, 21-17, 21-9

Second Women’s Singles: De Guzman def. Andres, 21-5, 21-7

First Women’s Doubles: Alvarez & Lunod def. Inlayo & Ramos, 21-17, 21-16

Second Women’s Doubles: Abalos & Gonzalez def. De Guzman & De Vera, 9-21, 21-16, 21-17

Third Women’s Singles: Lunod def. Concepcion, 21-13, 21-12