ATENEO de Manila University opened its title-retention bid in dominant fashion, sweeping Adamson University, 5-0, on the first day of the qualifying round of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Badminton tournament, held on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Manila.
Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Lyrden Laborte teamed up with rookie Robbie Ramos to propel the Blue Eagles to the early lead with a commanding win over the Soaring Falcons’ Noel Hernandez and Gabriel Gamoy in the first doubles match, 21-18, 21-11, in just 31 minutes of action.
Laborte and Ramos had to fend off a determined Adamson pair in the opening set, which saw Adamson close the gap to 13-15, before the Ateneo duo pulled away. The second set was more one-sided, with a five-point run that stretched their lead to 19-9, sealing the match.
“I’m happy that we started the season with good wins, considering we’re using a venue that we haven’t used for quite a while,” said head coach Kennie Asuncion.
Laborte, this season’s Ateneo captain, earlier kicked off the sweep with a commanding 19-minute victory over Adamson’s Kyrik Roldan in straight sets, 21-10, 21-7. Senior Arthur Salvado Jr., a fellow UAAP Season 86 MVP, doubled Ateneo’s advantage with a 21-17, 21-14 win over Nathan Acedillo.
Allen Penute and Charles Bagasbas showcased their clutch skills with a 21-18, 21-17 triumph over Julious Fontanilla and Acedillo in the second doubles rubber. Last year’s Rookie of the Year, Lance Vargas, then sealed the sweep with a 21-9, 21-8 rout of Jhon Dema-ano.
