Finals rematch locked in for UAAP Women's Badminton

Ties on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall

Men's:

8 a.m. – NU vs Ateneo (Final)

8 a.m. – UP vs UST (Third-place match)

1 p.m. – UP vs Ateneo (Final)

1 p.m. – NU vs UST (Third-place match)

ATENEO De Manila University and University of the Philippines arranged a third straight championship showdown after taking down respective foes in the UAAP Season 87 Women’s Badminton Tournament Final Four on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Manila.

Rookie Althea Ocampo fueled the reigning champions Blue Eagles’ campaign for a fifth straight UAAP title, finishing the contest on a 3-2 decision over the National University Bullpups.

Meanwhile, the Fighting Maroons leaned on the prowess of third-year stalwart Anthea Gonzalez in sweeping the University of Santo Tomas Lady Shuttlers, 3-0, to secure an eighth Finals appearance in nine seasons.

The third consecutive installment of the Battle of Katipunan for the UAAP women’s badminton tiara is set for Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the same Malate venue.

Ocampo secured Ateneo’s 10th championship berth in 11 seasons following a 21-9, 21-9, win over Tia Bualat in the third and deciding singles rubber.

“Actually, ‘yung pagpasok ko po sa Ateneo is pressure po sa ‘kin kasi nga po I’m joining a champion team, Pero tinake ko ‘yung pressure na ‘yun at in-invert ko into something positive. Kasi kung magpapadala ako sa pressure, ‘yung team lang masisira,” said the 2024 Palarong Pambansa secondary girls’ gold medalist.

“Nagpe-pray lang po talaga ko na manalo ‘yung second doubles para ‘pag dating sa ‘kin, laruin ko lang po ‘yung best ko,” Ocampo added.

The reigning four-peat champions had to do it the hard way.

Ateneo bagged the first singles match with captain Mika De Guzman back in fold after two matchdays of absence. The Smash Pilipinas standout powered through 2024 Philippine Badminton Open Women’s Singles Finals rival, Ysabel Amora, 21-15, 21-17.

The Bulldogs snagged the lead with Karyll Rio and the pair of Jeya Von Pinlac and Andria Songcuan. Rio leveled the contest with a 21-19, 21-11 win over Feeby Ferrer, while Pinlac and Songcuan emerged victorious over De Guzman and Ocampo, 21-14, 21-13.

Ferrer then made amends for Ateneo, teaming up with fellow third-year standout Maxene Olango in a come-from-behind conquest of NU seniors Sarah Barredo and Gwyneth Desacola, 18-21, 21-16, 21-12, to set up Ocampo’s heroics.

On the other hand, Gonzalez and Kimberly Lao avenged their 22-24, 16-21 elimination-round loss to Marielle Alvarez and Patricia De Leon, winning it 21-19, 21-18 this time to secure UP a third straight Finals ticket.

“Nung una po kasi, kaunti lang po ‘yung time namin mag-practice na dalawa (ni Kimy); biglaan lang po talaga ‘yon. Kaya ‘yung unang laro po namin, pressured kami, kasi ‘yung mga tinuro sa ‘min bago lang rin sa ‘min,” said the Season 85 Rookie of the Year.

“Pero ‘to pong wins namin, importante po talaga ‘yung confidence. Paano ka mananalo kung hindi ka confident? Dapat talaga mas lamang ‘yun sa kaba. Hindi rin kayo mananalo kung sa sarili mo lang ikaw nagtitiwala, o sa teammate mo lang. Dapat lahat kayo gusto niyong lumaban; lahat kayo dapat gustong manalo,” she added.

The third-year stalwart, Gonzalez, opened the day with a victory against De Leon, 21-8, 21-11. Susmita Ramos doubled the advantage with a 21-12, 21-12 clinic past Reshane Nicor in the following singles match.

NU will battle UST in the third-place playoff at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.