National University’s (NU) Hailene Diaz and Naeomi Gulpany pulled through in the first doubles match, fueling a 4-1 victory over last season’s Finals tormentor Ateneo de Manila University and completing a sweep of the qualifying round of the UAAP Season 89 Women’s Badminton Team Event on Saturday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
The cousins came through in the clutch, taking down first-time partners Jochelle Alvarez and Althea Hernandez, 21-19, 5-21, 21-19, in nearly an hour to clinch the Lady Bulldogs’ fifth straight win.
This marked the first time NU had swept the eliminations, earning the top seed heading into the Final Four.
The Lady Bulldogs will face the Adamson University Lady Falcons, who reached the semifinals for the first time since Season 72 in 2009, on Tuesday at 1 p.m.
Gweneth Chiva and Sab Amora gave NU a 2-0 advantage after defeating Fayina Dolor and Althea Ocampo, respectively, in the first two singles matches.
Rookie Chiva needed just 19 minutes to complete a 21-5, 21-6 sweep of Dolor, while team captain Amora fended off Ocampo, 21-13, 21-14, in 43 minutes to extend the lead.
Andrea Hernandez and Daena Castro pulled one back for the Blue Eagles with a 21-11, 21-10 rout of Lee-Ann Jade De Leon and Tia Bualat. However, Lady Bulldog Karyll Rio sealed the victory and completed NU’s sweep of the qualifying round with a 21-15, 21-14 win over Angel Valle.
University of the Philippines leaned on graduating seniors Kimberly Lao and Susmita Ramos to finish the qualifying round in second place with a 4-1 win-loss record.
Lao and Ramos secured their second consecutive victory as a pair, helping the Fighting Maroons complete a 5-0 sweep of the Adamson Lady Falcons.
They defeated the previously unbeaten tandem of Mary Untal and Jasmine Reformina, 21-11, 22-20, in the opening doubles match.
University of Santo Tomas ended its team event campaign on a winning note, defeating De La Salle University, 3-2.
Ivan Tuazon shone brightest as the University of Santo Tomas completed the men’s Final Four cast, defeating De La Salle University, 3-2, in their playoff tie on Sunday at Gameville Central Park in Mandaluyong City.
In a battle between two universities looking to re-establish themselves among the league’s elite, the Golden Shuttlers secured their fourth Final Four appearance in five seasons after missing out on the semifinals last year.
Once again, they had fourth-year standout Tuazon to thank, as the team captain came through in the deciding singles rubber against rookie Huego Queddeng, 21-17, 23-21, in an action-packed 54-minute battle.
Standing in the way of UST’s bid to reclaim its place among the league’s elite is undefeated National University, which awaits the Golden Shuttlers in the Final Four for a place in the championship round.