The NU men’s team reclaimed the throne. The UP women’s team dethroned the reigning champs. Here’s how the UAAP Season 87 badminton tournament finals went down.
The UAAP Season 87 badminton tournament came to a close yesterday, October 30, with National University (NU) claiming the men’s title and the University of the Philippines (UP) taking the women’s — both sides doing so in dramatic fashion.
NU has long boasted a dominant badminton squad. Before losing the title in UAAP Season 86, their team went on a seemingly endless seven-peat in the men’s badminton tournament. Though they missed out on the gold medal finish last year, they have found their place back on top, sweeping Ateneo De Manila University 3-0 in the Season 87 final.
Lanz Zafra, a former member of the national team pool, secured the defining wins that would grant his side the UAAP title. Teaming up with Nestojan Tapales in the doubles match, they overcame Ateneo’s pair, Arthur Salvado Jr. and Lance Vargas in a long, 70-minute clash.
With this, NU has secured their ninth overall badminton championship.
“Talagang pinaghandaan kasi namin ‘to. Tapos meron pa kaming mga galing ng injuries. Before, ‘yung kay Mark [Velasco] before. So, masayang-masaya kami. Kami talaga ang pinaka-masaya ngayon kasi talagang nabalik namin ang korona sa Jhocson,” NU head coach Jaime Llanes shared.
Solidifying NU’s championship win, Zafra was also named MVP of the men’s tournament. In addition, UP’s Shan Clar was also awarded Rookie of the Year.
Meanwhile, in the women’s badminton tournament final, it was UP who emerged victorious with a 3-1 victory, also over reigning champions Ateneo De Manila University, robbing them of the five-peat they had been chasing all season long.
Anthea Gonzalez was the star of the finals, as she was also later named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. In her first match of the finals, she dominated Ateneo’s Maxene Olango, taking an emphatic 21-5, 21-7 win. Later on, she partnered with Kimberly Lao, and with a 21-19, 21-19 victory over Olango and her partner Feeby Ferrer, they clinched the women’s title.
With this, UP marks their 10th championship in the league, making them the winningest badminton squad in the UAAP.
“Lahat kami nag-sacrifice para makamit tong kampeonato na ‘to, ‘yung mga coaches, mga players. Lahat sila binigay ‘yung puso para makuha nila ‘tong championship na ‘to, kasi matagal na nilang hindi nakukuha. Lahat nag-work hard para rito, kaya siguro ito ‘yung reward sa kanila,” UP head coach Ariel Magnaye said.
As for the individual awards of the competition, Ateneo’s Althea Ocampo was awarded Rookie of the Year.
Images courtesy of UAAP Media Bureau.