ASSERTING THEIR dominance early in the tourney, defending champions Ateneo Lady Eagles shrugged off the De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, 5-0, in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82 Women’s Badminton Tournament on Friday, September 20, at the Centro Atletico Badminton Hall, Quezon City. The Lady Eagles managed not to drop a single set in five matches with DLSU.
Starting-off hot for the Lady Eagles, Team Captain Chanelle Lunod squeezed past through a valiant effort by DLSU Team Captain Iyah Sevilla 2-0. After a 17-all deadlock in the first set, Lunod pulled away as she tallied four straight markers against Sevilla, 21-17. Lunod then continued her steam to finish the second set with a 21-16 outing, giving the Lady Eagles their first team-tie.
Highly touted rookie Mika De Guzman then made her much-awaited UAAP debut with a stellar 2-0 outing against Lady Archer Lia Manguilimutan. The rookie phenom breezed through the first set 21-9 after an error-plagued performance by Manguilimutan. De Guzman then continued the surge in the ensuing set, opening the second 7-3. De Guzman didn’t look back with a 21-9 romping of DLSU to give Ateneo its second team-tie.
Following this, Lunod and Joella De Vera suited up for the Blue and White to battle their DLSU counterparts Kanna Baba and Sevilla. The Lady Eagles benefited through a 7-0 run midway through the first set to build a comfortable 15-8 cushion, eventually finishing with a 21-12 opening set. Tied 10-10 in the second set, De Vera and Lunod then continued to pounce to give the Lady Eagles their third team-tie with a 21-16 second set outcome.
De Guzman and Geia De Vera then returned to the court and showcased their chemistry in their battle with DLSU’s Manguilimutan and Palma Cruz. The Lady Eagles continued their groove in the first set after a 21-15 win, then survived a valiant stand by the Lady Archers in the second set to win 22-20.
Joella De Vera made her way to the court once more to put the icing on the cake for Ateneo after a 2-0 (21-11, 21-9) mastery over Lady Archer Kanna Baba in the final match, giving Ateneo a commanding 5-0 team-tie edge.
Ateneo will look to win their second straight of the season against the Adamson University Lady Falcons on Saturday, September 21, 1:00 PM, at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
Team-tie score: Ateneo 5 DLSU 0
Set scores:
1st Singles: Chanelle Lunod (Ateneo) defeated Iyah Sevilla 2-0: 21-17, 21-16
2nd Singles: Mika De Guzman (Ateneo) defeated Lia Manguilimutan 2-0: 21-9, 21-9
3rd Singles: Joella De Vera (Ateneo) defeated Kanna Baba 2-0: 21-11, 21-9
1st Doubles: Geia De Vera and Chanelle Lunod (Ateneo) defeated Kanna Baba and Iyah Sevilla 2-0: 21-12, 21-16
2nd Doubles: Mika De Guzman and Joella De Vera (Ateneo) defeated Lia Manguilimutan and Palma Cruz 2-0: 21-15,22-20
