CONTINUING THEIR spectacular reign on the court, the Ateneo Men’s Badminton Team (AMBT) swept the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Shuttlers, 5-0, in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 Men’s Badminton tournament. The game took place earlier this morning at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in the City of Manila.
This victory puts the Blue Eagles at a 3-0 win-loss record, with the defending champions winning all 15 of their team-ties thus far.
Reigning Rookie of the Year (ROY) Lance Vargas kicked off Sunday’s bout in form, decisively defeating UST’s Lennox Cuilao in the first singles match in straight sets, 2-0. In the first set, the highly motivated Vargas kept the Tiger Shuttler on his toes with his relentless aggression, resulting in a strong 21-14 victory for the sophomore sensation.
However, the second set told a different story, as a more assertive Cuilao took an early 4-1 lead. Although Vargas quickly reclaimed control with his astute shot-making, Cuilao’s quick drives brought the frame back to a 16-16 deadlock. Undeterred by his opponent’s skill, the ROY upped his tempo and sealed the match with a critical smash, 21-18.
UAAP Season 86 Co-Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lyrden Laborte entered the second singles match in style and quickly dispatched John Vincent Espinoza in straight sets. Laborte dominated Espinoza in the first set, forcing numerous net errors to secure a 21-7 Ateneo victory.
The reigning MVP maintained this dominance in the second set, displaying spectacular backhand net shots to generate a double-digit advantage, 18-8. In the final rally, Laborte vanquished the Tiger Shuttler with a perfect clear, 21-9, giving Ateneo a strong head start with two team-tie points.
Officially securing Ateneo’s third tournament victory were Team Captain and Season 86 Co-MVP Pingkoy Salvado, who teamed up to trounce UST’s Jacob Galve and Janzen Panisales in the first doubles match. Salvado and Vargas took command of the court immediately, swiftly taking the first set with a score of 21-10.
In the second frame, the Blue Eagle tandem consistently responded to every shot from UST, 12-6. As the set progressed, the pace of the exchanges reached its boiling point, 19-10. The duo remained resolute in staving off all of UST’s attacks, ultimately forcing the Tiger Shuttlers to unintentionally hit the shuttlecock out of bounds, 21-11.
Looking to earn their fourth team-tie point of the day, Charles Bagasbas and Laborte took on Vianney Miraflor and Cuilao in the second doubles match. Although the Blue Eagles swiftly took control of the first set via their artistry on the court, 21-17, they encountered an extremely driven Tiger Shuttler pair in the second set.
The two duos engaged in a heated battle that arrived to a 9-9 deadlock. In the match’s final rallies, the Blue Eagles ultimately repelled UST’s advances, stealing the set at 21-18.
Waving the flag of the Blue and White, Salvado challenged UST’s Francis Sarmiento in the final match. Despite Sarmiento’s attempts on defense, the reigning UAAP Co-MVP was unrelenting with his assaults, leading Ateneo to a 21-7 victory in the first set.
Salvado’s shot mastery carried on to the second set, as the skipper shattered UST’s defense with his electrifying smashes and drop shots, 12-3. Salvado then pushed the tempo further, eventually serving Sarmiento a delectable net kill to secure a 21-14 victory. The Blue Eagle’s victory over Sarmiento ended today’s contest at 5-0 in favor of the Blue Eagles.
In the hunt for their fourth straight victory, the AMBT will return to face crosstown rivals University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons next Saturday, October 26, at 8:00 AM in the same venue.
Team-tie Score:
Ateneo-UST: 5-0
Results:
First Singles: Vargas (Ateneo) def. Cuilao (UST), 21-14, 21-18
Second Singles: Laborte (Ateneo) def. Espinoza (UST), 21-7, 21-9
First Doubles: Salvado & Vargas (Ateneo) def. Galvez & Panisales (UST), 21-10, 21-11
Second Doubles: Laborte & Bagasbas (Ateneo) def. Miraflor & Cuilao (UST), 21-15. 21-18
Third Singles: Salvado (Ateneo) def. Sarmiento (UST), 21-7, 21-14
Current Standings (W-L):
- ATENEO Blue Eagles (3-0)
- NU Bulldogs (2-0)
- UP Fighting Maroons (2-1)
- UST Tiger Shuttlers (1-2)
- AdU Soaring Falcons (0-2)
- DLSU Green Shuttlers (0-3)
