The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons clinched silver and bronze to repeat last year’s podium finishes at the UAAP Season 86 Badminton Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 13, at the Centro Atletico Badminton Center.
The UP Men’s Badminton Team team swept the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers in the battle for bronze, while the Lady Shuttlers emerged as runners-up against the reigning champions Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles.
Defending the bronze
After falling short against National University in the semifinals, the Diliman-based squad settled for bronze by making quick work of the UST Growling Tigers in the battle for third in the men’s division, 3-0.
UP sophomore Kervin Llanes kicked off the first-to-three showdown by winning against Sean Dela Cruz in the opening singles match, 21-14 and 21-11.
National team member Jelo Albo capitalized on this momentum to subdue UST skipper Lennox Cuilao with a commanding 21-9 and 21-12 victory to give UP a 2-0 advantage.
UAAP Season 85 Rookie of the Year Jewel Angelo Albo with a fierce outing to bring UP a win away from another third-place finish. Photo by the UAAP Media Team
Finally, the two sophomores connived to finish the job in the doubles showdown with a 21-17 and 21-13 victory. State U ended the series without dropping a single set, ultimately closing their UAAP Season 86 journey on a high note.
The UP Men’s Badminton Team emerged second in the qualifying round with a 4-1 record before the seven-year reigning titlists NU Bulldogs, denied them a championship bid following an epic reverse sweep in the semi-finals series.
A silver lining
In the women’s action, the Fighting Maroons fell short in their quest for a first gold medal since Season 79 after succumbing to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in a classic Battle of Katipunan decider, 1-3.
Ateneo’s Jochelle Alvarez and Mika De Guzman, the hailed co-MVPs of the tournament, opened the clash for gold by displaying dominion over UP standouts Susmita Ramos and Anthea Gonzalez in the first two singles matches.
Ramos capitalized on Alvarez’s rocky start to take the opening set, 21-14. However, Alvarez eventually found her groove halfway through the second set to avenge her first-set loss and claim the match with twin 21-16 scores in the second and third sets.
Meanwhile, UP’s Season 85 Rookie of the Year Gonzalez struggled early against De Guzman in the second singles match, resulting in a lopsided 21-11 defeat under two sets and putting State U at a 0-2 disadvantage.
However, the Gonzalez-Ramos duo proved to be resilient as they kept their spotless record in the doubles match, winning against Missy Cervantes and Angel Valle, 21-8 and 21-16 to keep UP’s championship hopes alive.
Star sophomores Susmita Ramos and Anthea Gonzalez conspiring for a gallant stand to stay alive in the UAAP Season 86 finals match. Photo by the UAAP Media Team
Despite these gutsy efforts, however, UP captains Andrea Abalos and Patricia De Dios were unable to overpower the relentless De Guzman-Alvarez pair, costing them the crown, 7-21 and 12-21.
The State U bets settled for a second-place finish to add a silver to UP’s medal haul for Season 86.
The UP Women’s Badminton Team finished third in the eliminations with a 3-2 record before stunning the Lady Bulldogs to book a finals rematch against the undefeated Ateneo squad.
UPMBT Team-Tie score: UP-UST: 3-0
1st Singles: Llanes (W 21-14, 21-11)
2nd Singles: Albo (W 21-9, 21-12)
1st Doubles: Llanes/Albo (W 21-17, 21-13)
UPWBT Team-Tie score: UP-Ateneo: 1-3
1st Singles: Ramos (L 21-14, 16-21, 16-21)
2nd Singles: Gonzalez (L 11-21, 11-21)
1st Doubles: Ramos/Gonzalez (W 21-8, 21-16)
2nd Doubles: De Dios/Abalos (L 7-21, 12-21)
