Badminton teams soar over opponents in opening day matches

The Ateneo de Manila Men’s and Women’s Badminton teams are off to a great start in Season 74 as they beat their respective opponents on Saturday, August 6, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall. The Blue Eagles won 3 matches to 2 against De La Salle University while the Lady Eagles soared over their University of the Philippines counterparts, 4-1.

The Blue Eagles had an early loss in the first singles match played by Justin Natividad; 17-21, 17-21, but Patrick Natividad was able to turn things around in his singles match when he won in three games, 21-16, 18-21, 21-16. Ateneo was able to tie the match, 1-all, after the singles matches.

The two doubles matches had a split result. Toby Gadi and Justin Natividad teamed up in the first match and they beat their DLSU counterparts in two games, 21-18, 21-16. This placed Ateneo ahead by 1 match, 2-1. However, Patrick Natividad and Paolo Sunga weren’t able to fare well in their own doubles match. They lost to DLSU in straight games, 17-21, 17-21. This gave DLSU the chance to tie at 2 matches all.

The deciding match was played by Gadi where he shut down his opponent in the first game, scoring 10 straight points. He continued to dominate in the second game, allowing only 9 points for DLSU, winning his match, 21-11, 21-9.

A short opening ceremony for the UAAP Badminton Tournament was held after the Men’s games. Then it was the ladies’ turn.

Carla Lizardo won in the first game of her match, 21-17, but UP held on to force a third match and eventually win it, 20-22, 20-22. It was the sole match that the Lady Eagles dropped on their first game day. Freshman Gelita Castilo won her singles match in the two games, 21-14, 21-6, where she showed her prowess on the court. Ateneo was able to tie UP, 1 match all.

In the doubles matches, Lizardo and Dia Magno teamed up to defeat the UP shuttlers. Despite losing the first game, 15-21, Lizardo and Magno came back in the second game, 21-14, to force a tie break, which they won, 21-12. It was the same story for the second doubles match played by Castilo and Lisa Denise Encarnacion. They lost, 18-21, in the first game but was able to recover in the second and third games, 21-10, 21-12. Ateneo was now in the lead, 3 matches to 1.

In the final singles match of the day, Magno recovered from a shaky first game to dominate in the second and third games. She won 2 -1; 16-21, 21-14, 21-16. The Lady Eagles walked out with a 4-1 win over the Maroon shuttlers.

Both teams will face the University of the East badminton teams on Sunday, August 07. The Men’s team will play at 9 am while the Women’s team start their match at 1 pm. Badminton games are played at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall.