THE ATENEO Lady Eagles emerged victorious against archrivals De La Salle University (DLSU) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 80 Women’s Badminton tournament on Friday, October 13 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. The team-tie would either spell the end of the Blue and White’s dreams at a Season 80 championship or let them live to fight another day. Fortunately for the Lady Eagles, it was the latter.
First on the court for the Lady Eagles was Bianca Carlos who added another win to her undefeated streak in the UAAP singles division as she defeated DLSU’s Aira Albo. Carlos breezed through the opening match of the day with a score of 21-14 for the first set and 21-12 for the next.
Next up was team captain Cassie Lim to represent the Blue and White in the second singles match. Unfortunately, Lady Archer Monica Rivera bested Lim in two well-contested sets at 17-21, 13-21, respectively.
Former team captain Trixie Malibiran and doubles specialist Geva De Vera stepped up against the DLSU duo of Albo and Alyssa Isabel Leonardo. The two pairs went back-and-forth the whole match. As DLSU took the first set at 13-21, Malibiran and De Vera answered back by claiming the second set at a close 21-19 score. However, DLSU came out on top taking the third set at 17-21 to take the lead in the team-tie (1-2).
In a crucial spot, Carlos returned to the court alongside fellow Lady Eagle Chanelle Lunod in the second women’s doubles match. Across them were Lady Archers Mariya Sevilla and Lindsay Tercias. The first set featured the Ateneo tandem with a dominating display as they quickly took a six-point lead, which translated into a first set victory for the Blue and White, 21-11. The pair continued to take the second set with a commanding six point win at 21-15, to even the team-tie (2-2).
With the two matches under their belt, it was up to Malibiran to bring the Blue and White to victory in the do-or-die final match of the day. In her way stood DLSU’s Sevilla. Malibiran took the first set at a close 22-20 score. Sevilla then answered back, taking the second set at 16-21. A nail-biter of a final set ended with a strategic shot from Malibiran, awarding Ateneo the win at 23-21 and a chance to live another day.
The Blue and White’s victory brings the Lady Eagles one step closer to facing University of the Philippines (UP) the UAAP Season 80 championship. As DLSU was twice-to-beat, the Ateneo Women’s Badminton team aims to replicate the results of the team-tie in a win or go home semifinal on Saturday, October 14 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
Match Score
Ateneo 3 DLSU 2
Set Scores
First Women’s Singles (Carlos vs. Albo): 21-14, 21-12
Second Women’s Singles (Lim vs. Rivera): 17-21, 13-21
First Women’s Doubles (Malibiran and De Vera vs. Leonardo and Albo): 13-21, 21-19, 17-21
Second Women’s Doubles (Carlos and Lunod vs. Sevilla and Tercias): 21-11, 21-15
Third Women’s Singles (Malibiran vs. Sevilla): 22-20, 16-21, 23-21
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