THE ATENEO blue shuttlers concede game one of the best of three finals series after being defeated by National University (NU), 0-3, in the University of Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 Badminton tournament on Sunday, October 9 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
To kick off today’s crucial finals round team-tie, Ateneo’s Emilio Mangubat squared off against this season’s reigning Rookie of the Year, Keeyan Gabuelo. The first set saw Mangubat get off to a rocky start, as he immediately found himself on the receiving end of a 5-0 NU run. The strong NU run eventually saw the defending champions enter the interval up by eight (11-3). After the interval, Gabuelo would continue his strong performance to see NU take the first set by a score of 21-10. The second set however, proved to be different from its predecessor as it was Gabuelo this time, who found himself on the receiving end of a 4-0 run. This run would eventually see Mangubat enter the interval at 11-3, before eventually taking the second set at 21-14. Eager to avenge his defeat in the previous set, Gabuelo once again got off to a flying start, entering the interval leading by five (11-6). Exiting the interval, Mangubat would only score once to see the set and game fall in NU’s favor.
Succeeding Mangubat for the second singles game of the team-tie was Hanz Bernado, as he found himself going head-to-head against NU’s Pedrosa. The first set was tightly contested— with Bernardo and Pedrosa alternately trading points before Pedrosa ultimately took the first set for NU by the score of 21-19. The second set differed greatly as Bernardo trailed Pedrosa for the whole set before losing the set and game by the score of 21-10.
With Ateneo now on the brink of the defeat by trailing NU 0-2 in the team-tie, The Ateneo tandem of Hanz Bernardo and Emilio Mangubat stepped up to the plate in their doubles match against NU’s tandem of Minuluan/Palmares. A fast-paced first half saw Bernardo and Mangubat enter the interval with a four-point cushion (11-7). Some perfectly executed drops and smashes from the Ateneo tandem would eventually see the Blue and White take the first set (21-17). The second set saw both tandems at a neck-and-neck battle and NU eventually entered the interval with a one-point cushion (11-10). NU however, would force a third set by winning the second set at 21-13. The third set like previous set, started with both teams neck-and-neck with one team [NU] barely leading at the interval (11-9). Both teams then alternately traded points once more, before NU eventually pulled away to sweep Ateneo in the team-tie with their third set victory (21-18).
After the game, Team Captain Sean Chan spoke about the team’s performance. “We gave our best to the point that we could today. Hopefully we’ll do better on saturday.”
This victory sees NU take a 1-0 lead in the best of three finals series. The blue shuttlers will face off in game two of the finals series against NU this Saturday, October 18AM, inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
