AFTER THEIR opening win, the Ateneo Men’s Badminton Team suffered its first loss of the season, falling to the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 2-3. The match was held at the Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Quezon City earlier this morning.
With the defeat to their Katipunan neighbors, the Blue Eagles now have a 1-1 win-loss record in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 86 Men’s Badminton Tournament.
In the first singles match, Team Captain Arthur Salvado’s gallant stand was not enough to stave off UP’s Jelo Albo, 0-2. Despite making a mid-set comeback after facing an early 7-12 hole, the AMBT skipper would surrender the first set, 16-21. For most of the second set, both shuttlers went on a back-and-forth exchange. Salvado’s attempt to inch closer ultimately fizzled out as Albo went on another late surge to secure UP’s first team-tie victory, 21-18.
In the second singles bout, Lyrden Laborte gave Ateneo its first team-tie win of the matchup after cruising past Charles Alcarpio, 2-0. Despite the veteran Laborte facing an 8-11 deficit at the halfway mark, his quick reflexes and aggressive attacks allowed him to ultimately take the first set, 21-12. Riding on his momentum, Laborte would take advantage of his opponent’s errors in the latter stages en route to a 21-8 win in the second set.
The first doubles action of the morning saw Ateneo’s Charles Bagasbas and Allen Penute falling short against Raydric Adinales and Mike Clemente in a heated battle, 0-2. After losing the first set, 16-21, the Ateneo duo valiantly forced UP to a 20-20 tie in the second set. However, a net shot would seal the deal for the Fighting Maroons, 23-21, inching one win closer to the overall victory.
Looking to force a tie-breaking fifth game, Laborte and Salvado returned to face Albo and Jason Vanzuela in the second doubles bout. In the first set, the Blue and White’s defense was overwhelmed by powerful smashes from their Katipunan-based counterparts, 12-21. Despite the Ateneo duo’s multiple attempts to climb back in the match, UP managed to pull away late in the second set with a 21-16 win, sealing the overall victory in their favor.
Closing the matchup for Ateneo was Lance Vargas, who scored a 2-0 victory against Kervin Llanes in the final singles match. The newest Blue Eagle overcame a heated battle in the first set, 23-21. Despite Llanes’s comeback attempt, Vargas swung the momentum back to the Blue and White, winning the second set, 21-13.
The Blue Eagles look to bounce back from today’s loss as they take on the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons on Saturday, 8:00 AM, at the same venue.
