Reclaiming thrones: NU, UP roll to UAAP badminton titles, rise as winningest programs

MANILA, Philippines – The NU Bulldogs completed a revenge tour in the UAAP Season 87 men’s badminton tournament, rolling to a convincing 3-0 finals sweep of fierce rival Ateneo on Wednesday, October 30, for their record-extending ninth championship — all won in just the last 11 seasons.

Season 85 MVP Lanz Zafra penned a storybook comeback tale after sitting out the previous year, teaming up with Nestojan Tapales to overcome the award-winning duo of Season 86 MVP Arthur Salvado Jr. and Season 86 Rookie of the Year Lance Vargas, 23-21, 17-21, 21-17, in a fierce doubles match decider.

Zafra likewise set the tone in the Bulldogs’ opening salvo, dispatching the rookie Vargas, 21-15, 21-11 to draw first blood in the race-to-three finals, before 2023 Philippine Badminton Open men’s singles champion Mark Velasco upended reigning MVP Lyrden Laborte, 21-17, 12-21, 21-18.

“We really prepared for this even though we were coming off injuries like from Mark before, so we’re really happy,” said longtime NU head coach Jaime Llanes in Filipino. “We’re really the happiest that we returned the crown to Jhocson.”

With its ninth title, NU created a two-championship separation with Ateneo, which in turn settled for its sixth silver in the the Bulldogs’ 11-year dynasty run.

The Blue Eagles’ woes did not there as their Katipunan neighbor UP rubbed salt to the wound with a decisive 3-1 finals romp in the women’s tournament for its own record-extending coup of title No. 10, in turn deflating Ateneo’s five-peat bid.

Eventual MVP Anthea Gonzalez had her fingerprints all over the drought-ending title win, as she set the tone with a 21-5, 21-7 rout of Maxene Olango before overcoming Olango anew and Feeby Ferrer in a hard-fought doubles match with Kimberly Lao, finishing 21-19, 21-19.

This marked UP’s first women’s badminton title since the program’s three-peat in Seasons 77 to 79.

Ateneo’s lone win in the finals, meanwhile, came in hard-earned fashion, as Season 86 MVP Mika de Guzman locked horns with Susmita Ramos in a back-and-forth singles war, ultimately clinching an 18-21, 21-8, 23-21 decision.

Ramos, however, called for reinforcements for the rebound effort, as she and Dianne Libaton fended off De Guzman and Althea Ocampo, 21-13, 21-19, in doubles action.

“We all sacrificed to get this championship — the coaches, the players. All of us gave our hearts to get this because it’s been a long time since we got one. Everyone worked hard and that’s why we got rewarded,” first-year UP head coach Ariel Magnaye said in Filipino.”

“With the consistency and relationship they have built, if they’re still there, I think we can get this again next season.”

Ateneo, sitting at seven women’s badminton titles, had to settle for its ninth runner-up finish — the last ones coming in three-peat fashion as the Eagles served as the Maroons’ able rivals in their Seasons 77 to 79 golden romp. – Rappler.com