ATENEO and University of the Philippines (UP) prevailed in contrasting fashions to go 2-0 won-lost in University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s badminton action Monday at the Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Quezon City.
The reigning two-time champion Blue Eagles leaned on national athlete Mika De Guzman to beat University of Santo Tomas (UST), 4-1, as she swept her assignments for the day.
The Ateneo captain took down Charlize Belen, 21-11, 21-9, in the first singles match, before teaming up with reigning back-to-back MVP Chanelle Lunod in the first doubles match, 21-13, 21-8, over Clara Ignacio and Elij Pena.
Rookie Jochelle Alvarez earlier made it 2-0 for Ateneo with a second singles victory past Rhafi Santos, 21-13, 21-8.
UST retaliated with Santos and Jennifer Saladaga pocketing the second doubles match, 15-21, 21-17, 21-15, over Alvarez and Missy Cervantes, but Lunod made sure the defending champions get the last say with a sweep of Saladaga, 21-15, 21-15, in the final singles match.
“It’s not easy to get 5-0 because each team has its own exceptional players, so it’s OK,” Ateneo head coach Kennie Asuncion said. “It’s a learning experience for us. I look at it as something to be learned.”
UP, on the other hand, flaunted its depth in a sweep of Adamson University, 5-0, with national team standouts Lea Inayo and Susmita Ramos closing the tie in the first doubles match.
Aldreen Concepcion and Anthea Gonzalez set up a 2-0 advantage after winning the first two singles matches for the Fighting Maroons. Concepcion waylaid Patricia Timosa, 21-11, 21-8, and Gonzalez whitewashed Janine San Ignacio, 21-1, 21-3.
Inlayo and Ramos then booked a dominant 21-10, 21-5 win over Melody Ampusta and Graziel Cabriga in only 23 minutes.
National University also joined the win column after a 5-0 sweep of De La Salle University with Sarah Barredo winning her singles and doubles matches.
Barredo made clinical work of Mia Manguilimotan to open the day and then paired with Ybonnie Dema-ano in the first doubles match for a 15-21, 21-13, 21-8 victory over Shayne Boloron and Palma Cruz.