Asteegs snap Reapers’ vie for three-peat; redeem badminton championship trophy

Halting the defending champions’ bid for a grand slam, the College of Engineering (COE) Asteegs snapped the College of Agriculture (COA) Reapers’ lower-bracket surge, clinching a hard-fought 3–2 matches victory to reclaim the gold in the badminton doubles, October 14.

Despite the Asteegs’ early bid to seize momentum in the men’s doubles A category, the Reapers, who were anchored by the consistency of Godwin Lamzon and Rene Siolao, who struck first, sweeping the set 0–2 (21–17, 22–20) to draw first blood, 0–1.

© Krystelle Blanche Manlangit

In the women’s A category, however, the tide turned as the Asteegs started strong, overshadowing the Reapers early on and stretching their lead to 15–10. 

COE’s duo Renee Aguinea and Lorraine Batobalani maintained their rhythm, closing the first set at 21–12 before capping the second with a dominant 21–9 win to even the score, 1–1.

Momentum continued in the men’s doubles B category, featuring Asteegs Nepthali Andrade’s precise center-line aces and back-alley kills which were complemented by Murphy Ty’s front-court command which paved the way as for the pair to cruise through the first set, 21–13. 

COE carried the same intensity into the second, sealing the win with a 21–12 finish to achieve a 2–1 overall lead.

However, the women’s B category told a different story in which the Reapers regained control, overpowering the Asteegs in two straight sets to force a decisive mixed doubles showdown, 2–2.

In a display of grit and composure, Asteegs’ pair Zedrick Concepcion and Janefe Venancio dominated the first set of the mixed doubles, 21–8, moving within striking distance of the championship. 

In a fierce performance of rally, COE saw COA’s Harvey Bustria and Zea Mae Ancheta mounting a surge in the second set, giving up a four-point cushion midway through the match, 7-11.

Refusing to back down, the Asteegs clawed back to tie the score at 18–20 as the Reapers stood just one point away from forcing a decider. 

Fueled with the desire to seize the crown, COE strung together four straight points which were capped by Concepcion’s back-to-back alley smashes, to close out the match, 22–20. 

With the 3-2 victory, the Asteegs reclaimed their golden throne, now hailed as the new royalties of the badminton realm.