THE ATENEO Blue Eagles claim the 2025 Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championships (PIBC) title in a five-match classic against the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons. The contest was held earlier today at the MIA Badminton Center in Pasay City.

With this victory, the Blue and White secured their first PIBC title, breaking the Fighting Maroons’ streak of three consecutive titles in this illustrious preseason tournament.

Men’s Singles

After their 3-1 victory against the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Shuttlers in the semis, Ateneo called up rookie JR Pandi to square off against UP’s Shan Clar to officially commence the Battle of Katipunan.

The first set witnessed a game of runs, with Pandi falling behind halfway through the first set, 6-11. Despite this, the rookie sensation remained persistent, utilizing his long frame to launch strong attacks from all ends of the floor, 12-16. Continuing his run, the Blue Eagle managed to climb back and reclaim the lead after a net error from the opposition, 18-17. Now in front, the Atenean ultimately claimed the first set, courtesy of a cross-court smash, 21-17.

Pandi was once again on the back foot come the second set, as Clar capitalized on the Blue Eagle’s errors, 3-5. Regaining composure, the Maranao managed to close the gap using an array of offensive attacks, 15-15. Down the stretch, Pandi managed to pull away and eventually take victory after a heroic backhand smash, getting the first team-tie point for Ateneo, 21-19.

Women’s Singles

Looking to widen the gap in the team-tie, Blue Eagle Jochelle Alvarez took the court against Fighting Maroon Anthea Gonzalez for the second match of the finals.

The Katipunan neighbors went toe-to-toe in the opening set, with Gonzalez edging ahead, 6-7, before Alvarez slipped into a four-point deficit, 8-12. Alvarez answered with a three-point surge built on drop shots, cutting it to 11-12. However, her unforced errors piled up, letting Gonzalez rattle off an 8-0 run to set point. The veteran then clawed back two more points, but a costly net violation handed Gonzales the set, 13-21.

With her back against the wall, Alvarez opened the second set with a quick drop shot off the serve to tie it early at 2-2. However, miscues from Atenean co-captain Alvarez gave Gonzalez a 6-8 cushion. The Blue Eagle struggled with her positioning, sending up high returns that the Fighting Maroon capitalized on to widen the gap to 9-15. Alvarez rallied with drops and smashes, trimming the deficit to 13-15, but the errors still piled up. Alvarez’s miscues allowed Gonzalez to seal the frame, 16-21, leveling the team-tie at 1-1.

Men’s Doubles

Hoping to capture the lead in the team-tie, Ateneo’s Charles Bagasbas and Zeth Quiambao squared off against UP’s Mark Bernal and Kervin Llanes.

In the opening frame, both pairs traded smashes and drives until Bagasbas tied it at 5-5. The Loyola Heights-based duo then faltered with errors, giving UP the three-point lead at the break, 8-11. Quiambao put on a defensive clinic, absorbing every hit and setting up Bagasbas for quick kills to level at 16-all. Despite holding set point at 21-20 after a tense back-and-forth, Bagasbas and Quiambao surrendered three straight errors and surrendered the frame, 21-23.

Ateneo stormed into the second set behind Quiambao’s backhand precision, racing to an 8-3 lead before UP tied it at 8-all with a sharp shot variation. Bagasbas then took over, reading Llanes’ drops and hammering home counter-smashes to restore a 17-11 cushion. He then sealed the frame with a drive and a backrow smash, forcing a decider, 21-15.

In the final set, Ateneo struggled to find its rhythm, quickly trailing 0-3 and 6-11 at the switch after miscues from both players. Quiambao’s late defensive performance and powerful smashes sparked a comeback, but Ateneo fell 16-21 as UP took a 2-1 lead in the team-tie.

Women’s Doubles

Eager to keep Ateneo’s title hopes alive, Blue Eagles Althea Ocampo and Althea Hernandez faced Susmita Ramos and Patricia De Leon.

Both teams opened cautiously, engaging in long rallies which resulted in a tight game early on, 6-6. Ocampo then unloaded heavy smashes, but Ramos and De Leon answered with a series of sharp drops to build a three-point edge at the break, 8-11. Ateneo struggled as Ramos’ power and De Leon’s touch shots pushed UP ahead, 12-17, before the Blue and White erupted with an 8-0 run, flipping the set in their favor, 20-17. UP then scored once more, but another error handed Ateneo the set, 21-18.

The second set mirrored the events of the first, starting with a 5-5 deadlock. The Blue Eagles pulled away after blasting backcourt smashes, 11-7. Ateneo maintained control, with Ocampo’s all-around play pressuring De Leon into violations, 15-11. UP cut the deficit to two with consecutive drives, 16-14, but the Blue Eagles responded with a 3-1 run off errors to lead 19-15. Hernandez landed a perfectly placed drop shot before Ocampo sealed it with a smash, 21-15, forcing a decisive fifth match for the championship.

Mixed Doubles

With the stage set for a winner-take-all match, Blue Eagles Robby Ramos and Althea Fuentespina took the stage against Fighting Maroons Ryan Mendoza and Krissa De Leon. Errors were apparent from the Diliman-based squad, allowing the Blue and White to gradually pull away, 11-6. Ateneo continued to pile on the points as faults persisted for UP, resulting in a commanding 21-15 victory to claim the first set.

Needing just one more set to secure the crown, Ateneo came out firing with an early 2-0 lead. Improved floor spacing also opened the door for creative shots that kept the Fighting Maroons off balance, helping the Blue Eagles build a comfortable 11-4 advantage by the halfway mark. Despite a surge from UP that trimmed the lead to two, 15-13, Ramos’ flurry of attacks later in the game sealed the deal and clinched the Blue Eagles’ first-ever PIBC championship, 21-17.

With this victory, the Blue Eagles have cemented their place among badminton’s elite. Looking ahead, they now look to turn their preseason success into championship glory in the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 badminton tournaments.