UAAP: Green, Lady Shuttlers split thrilling matches against ADMU

As in all competitions pitted between both schools, the match-up between DLSU and ADMU was highly-anticipated and intense. Even as all eight schools played in the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall yesterday, a throng of green and blue occupied the largest portion in the stands of the venue. With the frenzied cheers drowning the swooshing sounds of the rackets on the courts, the men’s and women’s teams seemed to have their morale boosted with every rally. In the end, both schools left the Hall with mixed emotions.

The morning saw ADMU drawing first blood, as the Blue Eagles dealt the Green Shuttlers a heartbreaking 3-2 loss. Meanwhile, in the afternoon matches, the Lady Shuttlers avenged their loss against the Lady Eagles from last season, winning in a gut-wrenching 3-2 decision.

Green Shuttlers fall short of comeback

The opening match between Anton Cayanan and ADMU’s Jan Mangubat proved to be close early on. With Mangubat holding an early 11-8 advantage at the first break of the opening set, Cayanan fought back to claim a 15-14 lead. But this was short-lived, as Mangubat scored in succession, eventually taking the game, 21-16. Mangubat would then turn back an early lead by Cayanan and win the match in two games, 21-17, to give Ateneo a 1-0 lead in match play.

With his team behind, Kenneth Monterubio was pit against Clarence Filart in the second match. The veteran Green Shuttler easily won the first set, 21-16, and would prevent a late Filart comeback in the second, winning 21-17 to tie Ateneo, 1-1.

The third match featured the tandem of Cayanan and Jerickson Obaob against the Ateneo duo of Hanz Bernardo and Mangubat. Despite a furious comeback in the second set after narrowly losing the first, Cayanan and Obaob faded in the third and deciding game, settling for a 21-19, 13-21, 21-15 result. The loss gave Ateneo a slim 2-1 advantage.

The Monterubio brothers, Kenneth and Joshua, would then answer back with a win over Filart and Sean Chan. After a dominant first set, 21-13, brothers Joshua and Kenneth went on to win the second, 21-15, staging the fifth match as the deciding set for both teams.

With the series tied at 2-2, momentum seemed to be on the Green Shuttler’s side, as Andrew Pineda held an early 11-8 lead against Hanz Bernardo. However, with both players feeling the pressure, Bernardo got the better of the exchanges as he raced to a 21-17 opening set. Pineda would then fail to recover, as Bernardo also took the second set, 21-17, and consequently clinched the match to the delight of the Ateneo crowd.

Lady Shuttlers exact revenge

The first match was a duel between Isa Leonardo and Ateneo’s Angela Ramos. After a competitive first set, Leonardo quickly asserted herself in the second, zooming past her opponent en route to a 21-7 result which put the Green-and-White ahead, 1-0.

However, the Lady Eagles would again respond in the second match, as Arian Rivers went up against Ysabel Carlos. In a back-and-forth first set, Carlos held a slight edge, 11-8. After the break, she proved to be too much for Rivera to handle, taking the set, 21-12. The second set was even more dominant for Carlos, as she frustrated Rivera to submission, 21-8, to tie the series at 1-1.

The third match pitted seniors Kristelle Salatan and Aires Montilla against Joella De Vera and Patrisha Malibiran. Despite botching three early services in the first set, Kristelle Salatan and Aires Montilla managed to take the first set. Down 17-13 in the second game, the pair roared back to take a 19-17 lead late, and eventually the match, 21-18, successively giving DLSU the lead, 2-1.

The fourth match was arguably the most entertaining, as Leonardo and Iya Sevilla faced Carlos and Chanelle Lunod. Ateneo took the first set in dominant fashion, overpowering La Salle, 21-12. However, Leonardo and Sevilla would quickly counter, taking the second game, 21-10. This was highlighted by a scintillating 19th point in which both teams produced an incredible rally eventually won by the Lady Shuttlers. However, the Lady Eagles showed their talons in the deciding set, as Carlos and Lunod escaped with a 21-18 win despite a furious La Salle rally.

The decision was not settled until the final match, as Sevilla faced Janelle De Vera. With the series on the line, Sevilla showed no signs of fatigue despite playing a grueling match prior, as she took the first set with relative ease, 21-12. However, the second set proved to be more of a test. Down 20-18, Sevilla refused to back down, sparking an incredible rally and winning the match, 22-20, to the rumbling cheers of the crowd in green and white.

After the game, a visibly drained yet exuberant Sevilla dedicated her clinching win to her team, most especially her graduating seniors on their last playing year. Likewise, she commended her team’s overall performance as a testament to their determination to bounce back from last year’s loss to the Lady Eagles.

As soon as De Vera’s return hit the net, an ecstatic Head Coach Owen Lopez pumped his fist in the air, both as an expression of relief and joy. After the match, Coach Lopez stood, proud and satisfied with his teams’ efforts. “Both [men’s and women’s teams] maganda naman napakita, actually yung men’s namin, nagawa nila part nila.”

Relieving his players of the tensions of the game, Coach Lopez gave them reassuring words, saying, “Okay lang yan kasi for sure naman ang target namin makapasok sa top four, so malamang makalaban namin sila ulit.” Coach Lopez also acknowledged the pressures of playing an Ateneo-La Salle game, telling his players, “Lalong mag-expect na maging tight yung laban, yung rivalry talaga may pressure yan.”

To keep his players in check, he reminded them to focus on their objective. “Enjoy, at the same time, yung will to win namin.”

Up next for both teams is UE on Wednesday, September 28, also at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall. The Green Shuttlers face the Red Warriors at 8 am, to be followed by the Lady Shuttlers against the Lady Warriors at 1 pm.