Ateneo, UP book Final Four slots in women's badminton

UAAP Season 87 Badminton Standings

Men's

*Ateneo 3-0

*NU 3-0

UP 2-1

UST 1-2

DLSU 0-3

AdU 0-3

Women's

*Ateneo 3-0

*UP 3-0

NU 2-1

UST 1-1

DLSU 0-3

AdU 0-3

*-Final Four

Ties on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall

8 a.m. - Men's: Ateneo vs UP / UST vs NU / DLSU vs AdU

1 p.m. - Women's Ateneo vs NU / UST vs UP / DLSU vs AdU

Defending champion Ateneo De Manila University and last season's silver medalist University of the Philippines clinched the first two tickets in the UAAP Season 87 Women's Badminton Tournament Final Four after posting contrasting wins on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Manila.

Titleholders Blue Eagles needed to turn back University of Santo Tomas Golden Shuttlers, 4-1, to extend its ongoing winning streak to 26, and make it into the Final Four, thanks to the heroics of reigning three-time MVP Mika De Guzman and last season's captain Missy Cervantes.

The Fighting Maroons, meanwhile, turned a setback in the second singles before completing a similar 4-1 rout of the Adamson University Lady Falcons for likewise their third win of the season, thanks to the debuting pair of Kimberly Lao and Anielka Paz.

"Again, no team here is easy, so we're taking it one game at a time. Every game matters talaga, so we always have to give our best," said assistant coach Roy Callanta.

With National University and UP still up for the reigning four-peat champions, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle himself stressed the importance of staying consistent.

"We'll still have to keep our goal in mind pero one we're taking it one weekend at a time, one game at a time kami. And we'll try to focus, block all the distractions, and just put our focus on the task at hand."

De Guzman, the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open champion, and Cervantes, the two seniors for Ateneo, took matters into their own hands and secured the victory with a 17-21, 21-5, 21-18 comeback against Rhafi Anne Santos and Jennifer Saladaga in the second doubles match.

Angel Valle and De Guzman dominated the first two singles matches to take a 2-0 lead for the Blue Eagles. Valle downed Charlize Belen, 21-6, 21-14 in 35 minutes, while De Guzman swept past Reshane Nicor, 21-9, 21-13 in 33 minutes.

UST took one back with Patricia De Leon, last season's Rookie of the Year, and Mariell Alvarez with a 14-21, 21-17, 21-19 come-from-behind, 67-minute marathon against Feeby Ferrer and Maxene Olango.

It was all the Golden Shuttlers could manage, as rookie Althea Ocampo rounded up the rout with a 21-10, 21-15 clinic past De Leon in the final singles match.

Paz, a rookie who played singles in the first tie against De La Salle University, teamed up with Lao, a finalist in the 2024 Philippine Badminton Open with current captain Patricia de Dios, to reel the Fighting Maroons to the semifinals following a 22-20, 21-18 battle against Abigail Barcelona and Keanna Casaje.

UP and Adamson split the first two singles matches to open the day. National team pool member Susmita Ramos dominated Aleyha Villanueva, 21-10, 21-7 for the Fighting Maroons, but Barcelona quickly responded with a 22-20, 21-8 decision over Kahrene Zapanta to get one back for the Lady Falcons.

Ramos and rookie Dianne Libaton, though, set up the clincher for Lao and Paz with a 21-9, 21-11 quick work of Jennifer Ondol and Justine Barsona in the first doubles match.

Season 85 Rookie of the Year Anthea Gonzalez rounded up the contest with a 21-4, 21-15 clinic of Key Fuerte that lasted for 29 minutes.

On the other hand, National University collected four straight wins against De La Salle University, 4-1, to get a bounce-back victory and move a win away of joining Ateneo and UP.

Jeya Pinlac and Andria Songcuan maintained their unbeaten slate this season and sealed the second win for the Lady Bulldogs after a 21-14, 21-18 take of Mia Manguilimotan and Viana Antonio in 41 minutes.

Ysabel Aurora, the 2024 PBO runner-up in the women's singles, and Karyll Rio took the first two singles matches to put a 2-0 advantage for NU. Aurora overpowered Danica Castillo, 21-5, 21-6 in 22 minutes, while Rio needed three games and almost one hour to subdue Ghiselle Bautista, 21-16, 16-21, 21-12.

Lee Ann Jane de Leon finally made her debut this season, teaming up with Gwyneth Desacola in a 21-12, 21-13 sweep of Jacqueline Pantoja and Bautista in the second doubles match, but Lady Tuario got one back for the Lady Green Shuttlers, 21-10, 21-19 over Pinlac.

The Lady Bulldogs (2-1) will hope to join the two squads that are already in the semifinals, but they had to go through the defending champions Blue Eagles on Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Fighting Maroons will shoot for a fourth straight against the Golden Shuttlers (1-2), while the Lady Shuttlers and the Lady Falcons will dispute a maiden win in the other simultaneous team ties in the same Malate venue.