UP claims UAAP Season 77 women's badminton title

The University of the Philippines clinched the UAAP Season 77 women's badminton title on Wednesday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall, sweeping defending champions Ateneo with identical come-from-behind 3-2 victories.

The Lady Shuttlers from Katipunan started off strong, winning the first two singles matches. Season 76 MVP Bianca Carlos defeated Bea Bernardo, 21-18 and 21-15, then Trixie Malibiran needed three sets against Mary Ann Maranon, 19-21, 21-18, and 21-15.

The undefeated shuttlers from Diliman answered back by taking the doubles matches, as the tandem of Jessie Francisco and Bernardo defeating Carlos and Dia Magno, 21-19 and 21-12, followed by Marina Caculitan and Maranon beating Malibiran and Cass Lim, 10-21, 21-17, and 21-17.

With the matches tied at 2 apiece, it was up to Francisco for UP and Jana de Vera for Ateneo to duke it out for the win. And it was Francisco who came out on top, as the soon-to-be named MVP secured a 21-16 and 21-13 victory to seal the sweep.

Maranon received the Rookie of the Year plum to complete the awards.

NU reclaims UAAP men's badminton crown

National University capped its men's badminton campaign in impressive fashion, carving another sweep against La Salle to complete its undefeated season this past Sunday, their second title in the last three seasons.

Joper Escueta dismantled EJ Boac to open things up for the Bulldogs with identical 21-11 scores, with Peter Magnaye escaping with a close win over John Kenneth Monterubio, 21-18 and 21-17.

Escueta and Magnaye then teamed up in what turned up to be the only doubles matchup needed to decimate Carlos Cayanan and Gerald Sibayan, 21-8 and 21-10, to take the series and the championship, 3-0.

The Bulldogs swept the awards as well, with Escueta named as the MVP for the second time. Alvin Morada was named as the Rookie of the Year, while team mentor Jojo Mance was named as the Coach of the Year

In spite of the finals defeat, it was a successful season for the Green Shuttlers, who dethroned defending champion Ateneo in the stepladder playoffs to earn a seat in the finals.

In the women's side, the Lady Shuttlers of the University of the Philippines are one step away from ending a 14-year championship drought after a 3-2 Game 1 victory over defending champions Ateneo.

Jessie Francisco clinched the win for UP, nipping Dia Magno, 21-18 and 24-22 in the final match of the day.

Reigning MVP Bianca Carlos did her share in trying to give Ateneo the upper hand, winning her singles match against Paula Bernardo, 21-11, 21-23, and 21-16, as well as her doubles match with Magno against Francisco and Maria Elisha Ongcuangco, 21-17 and 21-13.

UP, though, even things up quickly, as Mary Ann Maranon defeated Trixie Malibiran, 21-18 and 21-16. Then Maranon and Mary Ann Caculitan forced the singles decider, defeating Malibiran and Cass Lim in the second doubles match, 21-15, 9-21, and 21-14.

UP can clinch the title on Wednesday afternoon at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall, starting at 1pm. Ateneo will have to win three straight games to be able retain the title.

NU one win away from reclaiming UAAP badminton crown

National University is at the cusp of reclaiming the UAAP men's badminton crown after sweeping La Salle on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

Joper Escueta overpowered John Kenneth Monterubio, 21-16 and 21-12 in the first singles match, while Ariel Magnaye took care of Gerald Sibayan, 21-12 and 21-16.

Escueta and Magnaye then teamed up in the doubles to formalize the sweep with identical 21-14 victories over Sibayan and Carlos Cayanan.

The Season 75 MVP said that they "were very focused and well rested because of our one-week break," after they dispatched the Green Shuttlers for their eighth straight win this season.

In the women's side, defending champions Ateneo took care of business against Far Eastern University, 3-1, to set up a matchup against the University of the Philippines.

Patricia Malibiran defeated Michal Dei Duquilla, 21-12, 14-21, and 21-9 to open things up for the Lady Shuttlers. Reigning MVP Bianca Carlos then beat Thea Pomar in her singles matchup, 21-9 and 21-15.

Although Pomar and Hannah Tudtud managed to pull one back for FEU in the first women's doubles match, 21-23, 21-19, and 21-17 over Jana de Vera and Dia Magno, Carlos and Malibiran sealed their return to the finals with a 21-19 and 21-18 victory over Duquilla and Maridel Rivera.

Game 2 of the men's finals and Game 1 of the women's finals are pegged to take place this Sunday.

NU, UP sweep UAAP Season 77 badminton eliminations

There will be a stepladder postseason at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Courts.

National University and the University of the Philippines took care of business in men's and women's badminton to secure an automatic finals seat, after sweeping the eliminations on Sunday.

NU turned back Ateneo, 3-2 to secure the finals seat and the thrice-to-beat advantage. The Blue Shuttlers' loss and La Salle's 5-0 domination over winless Far Eastern University ensures the Green Shuttlers are the second seed and hold the twice-to-beat advantage.

The defending champions will open the postseason in a "Battle of Katipunan" playoff, as UP defeated the Male Shuttlers of  UST, 4-1 in what constituted as a "play-in" game for the postseason. The other game saw Adamson end the season on a positive note with a 4-1 win over UE.

The Ateneo-UP matchup will take place on Wednesday morning at 9am. In their lone meeting in the eliminations last August 13, the Natividad brothers powered their way to a 4-1 win. Both team skipper Justin and his elder brother Pawee won their respective singles match, then they teamed up to win their doubles match as a tandem.

In the women's side, the University of the Philippines secured their finals seat with a 4-1 win over Far Eastern University.

La Salle forced a playoff for the right to finish second in the eliminations against Ateneo, beating their rivals, 3-2.

The Female Shuttlers of UST still have a chance to make it to the postseason, thanks to their 3-2 victory over UE. Both UST and FEU tote a 4-3 record, good enough to be tied for fourth in the standings.

The Ateneo-La Salle and UST-FEU matchups will take place also on Wednesday, at 1pm.

UAAP Season 77 Badminton to commence on Saturday

Ateneo Blue Shuttlers

Ateneo is ready for their title defense in badminton, as UAAP action for this season begins tomorrow (August 9) at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

The Loyola Heights-based squad secured the championship double last year, with the Blue Shuttlers aiming for a back-to-back, while the Lady Shuttlers going for their third straight title.

Season 76 Rookie-MVP Bianca Carlos acknowledged the pressure that comes with being champions, and added that La Salle and UP will be major contenders in the distaff side.

The men, on the other hand, they will have to deal with Season 75 champions National University and perennial contenders UST. Season 76 MVP Patrick Natividad says that they will do their best, knowing that "other teams are preparing as well."

Schedule of matches:

Men:

9am La Salle vs Adamson (Court 2), NU vs UP (Court 3), FEU vs UE (Court 5), Ateneo vs UST (Court 4)

Women:

1pm Ateneo vs UP (Court 4), UST vs Adamson (Court 2), La Salle vs FEU (Court 3), UE vs NU (Court 5)