SHUTTING DOWN the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Shuttlers 3-1, the Ateneo Women’s Badminton Team (AWBT) is now one match away from its quadrennial gold medal. Still posting an unblemished win-loss record at 6-0, the Blue and White continued to put forward a vicious threat in the semifinal this afternoon at the Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Quezon City. 

Team Captain Mika De Guzman opened the match for the Blue Eagles, sweeping UST’s Lizzy Belen in two destructive sets. With her veteran agility and formidable forehand strikes, De Guzman swiftly claimed the first match in back-to-back mirrored scores, 21-10, 21-10.

Following suit with her daunting command of the court, eagle-eyed standout Jochelle Alvarez produced landslide scores of 21-11, and 21-8 in the second match. Quickly leaving UST’s Patricia De Leon glued to ten-point deficits, Alvarez’s composure and skill sustained Ateneo’s momentum on its 2-0 run. 

Following the individual matches, rookie Angel Valle and co-captain Missy Cervantes displayed exceptional chemistry through an intense doubles match. Though falling short to UST in the first half of the opening set, the duo climbed up the scoreboard with their meticulous aim for the corner lines, 11-5. Despite the pair’s impressive court defense, the Blue Eagles fell short of a third match win after struggling to outlast Lady Shuttlers Jen Saladaga and Rhafi Santos, 13-21 and 12-21.

Zealous to avenge their team, Alvarez and De Guzman aggressively assembled themselves against UST in the last doubles match. Alvarez’s masterful manipulation of attack strength and De Guzman’s flawless guard at the edges made an outstanding victory for the Blue and White, 21-11 and 21-17. As their combined talent outplayed UST’s De Leon and Maye Alvarez, AWBT’s 3-1 team-tie standing finally hurtled them into the finals. 

Hungry to protect their crown for the fourth year in a row, the Blue Eagles will go full throttle against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on November 12 in the same venue.