ESTABLISHING THEIR run with stellar performances, the Ateneo Men’s Badminton Team (AMBT) racked up four wins through five contests to kickstart their 2024 Philippine Badminton Open campaign. Their opening games were held from June 5 to 6 at the First Pacific Leadership Academy in Antipolo, Rizal.
Commencing Ateneo’s opening affairs yesterday, Blue Eagle phenom Lance Vargas launched their early efforts on a cold note, succumbing to PBAD Smash Pilipinas’ Jewel Albo in their first men’s singles match, 0-2. Despite setting up puncturing shots, Vargas ultimately absorbed a 10-21, 7-21 loss to Albo.
Following the defeat, however, AMBT Co-captain and reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lyrden Laborte elevated Ateneo earlier today, orchestrating a 2-o masterclass against John Macabenta of the Jerry V. Macabenta Badminton Camp. In their round of 128 battle, Macabenta failed to find the opposite court against the agile Laborte, who took a landslide 21-3, 21-2 victory in the Blue and White’s second singles match.
Pairing up with Ateneo upstart Charles Bagasbas in the first men’s doubles, Laborte continued with his shot-sending clinic, as the tandem shined against Bianca Carlos Badminton Academy’s (BCA) Kryzler Villanueva and Zachary Chua, 2-0. In the first set, the Loyola Heights-based duo made quick work of BCA, securing a well-fought 21-11 victory. Hoping to seal their triumph, the Atenean duo completed their sweep, 21-9, to advance to the round of 64.
To cap off the second day of the competition, Laborte showcased his prowess anew, sweeping Kate Angel Amigable of the Philippine Air Force, 21-14, 21-18, to qualify for the round of 32.
With decisive results, Laborte reverbated the committed attitude embedded within the AMBT. “After naman ng UAAP, hindi kami tumigil ng preparation kasi ni-lu-look forward talaga namin ‘tong mga next tournaments,” the Cebu City native shared.
(After our UAAP season, we never stopped our preparations because we were looking forward to these next tournaments.)
The 21-year-old veteran also affirmed his commitment to ensuring the Blue Eagles spare no effort in the following games. “For me, noong nanalo ako ng MVP, tapos na ‘yon eh. Sa tournament na ‘to kumbaga fresh start, pero it motivates me na pag-igihan at para ma-prove ko sa sarili ko na deserve ko ‘yon,” he mentioned.
(For me, I won the MVP award, but that’s already in the past. This tournament is a fresh start in a way, but it motivates me to keep pushing to prove to myself that I deserved the award.)
Laborte and the Blue Eagles hope to sustain their strong start tomorrow, June 7, at 10:00 AM in the same venue.
