DESPITE AN auspicious start, the Ateneo Women’s Badminton Team (AWBT) dropped four out of seven of their matchups on the third and fourth days of the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open. The matches took place on June 8 and 9 at the First Pacific Leadership Academy in Antipolo, Rizal.
In spite of setbacks to her unit, multi-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Mikaela De Guzman claimed two important victories to advance to the semifinals.
Doubles, Round of 32
The AWBT’s first bout of the day saw Althea Fuentespina and Feeby Ferrer face Francine Aday and Hanami Salud in the round of 32 doubles category. The Blue Eagles surged ahead with precision shots and coordinated tactics, dominating both sets with identical scores of 21-7.
In a bid to uphold their teammates’ momentum, Niesha De Guzman and Marcjoel Perez dueled against University of the Philippines’ (UP) Jason Vanzuela and Eanne Quiamco in the round of 32 mixed doubles category. Despite a spirited resurgence after dropping the opening set, Ateneo ultimately fell short, with final set scores reading 16-21, 21-18, and 15-21.
A similar fate emerged in the second doubles round for another mixed Atenean duo in Althea Fuentespina and Charles Dominic Bagasbas. Despite their efforts, Fuentespina and Bagasbas succumbed to 2022 Benin International winner Christian Bernardo and 2023 Southeast Asian Games Representative Alyssa Leonardo in two quick sets, 10-21, 11-21.
Singles, Round of 16
Determined to tally wins for the Blue and White, De Guzman faced a familiar foe in UP’s Thea Gonzales in the round of 16 singles category. Undeterred by her keen competition, De Guzman flexed her MVP-caliber talent with impressive scores of 21-15 and 21-14, booking a trip to the quarterfinals.
Seeking to replicate her earlier round of 32 triumph, Ferrer returned to challenge National University (NU)’s Ysabel Amora in the second singles match. After a slow start in the first set which resulted in Ferrer’s loss, 15-21, the Atenean’s efforts to bounce back in the subsequent set proved to be lacking. Amora’s mastery limited Ferrer to only two points in the set to seal the Blue Eagle’s defeat decisively at 21-2.
Doubles, Round of 16
Meanwhile, the team’s last chance for a doubles win in the round of 16 category went astray after Fuentespina and Ferrer conceded via walkover against San Sebastian College-Recoletos’ Luzviminda Gaba and Wishes Gacho.
Singles, Quarterfinal Round
As the sole AWBT contender in the quarterfinal round, De Guzman squared off against UP shuttler Khea Montañez in a high-stakes affair. Displaying mastery of her craft, the Loyola Heights-based veteran commanded the court with strategic smashes and agile footwork to clinch an assertive sweep, 21-8 and 21-6.
With this crucial performance, De Guzman solidified her position in the semifinals and is now poised to clash with NU’s Karyll Rio tomorrow, June 10, at 10:00 AM in the same venue.
