Ateneo de Manila University is set to defend its titles in both the women’s and men’s divisions as the UAAP Season 87 Badminton Tournament begins on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall in Manila. The tournament returns to its historic venue after three seasons held at the Centro Atletico in Cubao. The last matches at this Manila location were in Season 81 in 2018.
Blue Eagles head coach Kennie Asuncion emphasized the team’s approach, stating, “When we start a season, we approach it the same way every year—on a clean slate. We don’t overestimate or underestimate any team because we know every team has its own strengths and weaknesses. So, we take it one team tie at a time.”
The Ateneo women’s squad, aiming for their fifth consecutive title, will be led by three-time MVP and national team star Mika De Guzman. The reigning champions will kick off their campaign against Adamson University at 1 p.m.
“UAAP is a big tournament for us since it’s at the collegiate level. This is where we channel all the hard work, sacrifices, and the sweat, blood, and tears we endure in training,” De Guzman said. “Every year, we strive to give our 100 percent because we know all the teams are coming for the crown. Our preparation is not just a few weeks or months; for us, it’s a year-round commitment.”
De Guzman also highlighted the importance of mental training. “Of course, it’s not just physical preparation. We focus on mental training because it’s just as important. Coach Kennie always reminds us to strengthen our minds, as it’s key to maintaining a positive outlook and achieving peak performance. As a team, we’re more than just teammates; we treat each other like family. We support, encourage, and inspire one another both on and off the court,” she added.
Lyrden Laborte, last season’s MVP, will lead the Ateneo men’s team, which ended National University’s seven-year reign last year. The defending champions will face NU earlier in the day at 8 a.m.
“The upcoming UAAP tournament will definitely be highly competitive,” Laborte said. “We’re up against strong teams like last season, but this time we have the added challenge of defending our title. Our preparation is similar to last year’s, but we make sure to do our best in every training session. Even on days when we’re not 100 percent confident in our shots, we focus on what we can control and maintaining a strong mindset.”
The country’s No. 7 men’s singles player added, “We’ve also been working on building stronger teamwork, especially with the new guys, and refining our skills. We’ve spent time analyzing our previous performances and addressing our weaknesses. Overall, I believe we’re ready to give our best, put all our hearts into this, and trust God for this One Big Fight in Season 87.”
In other men’s division matches at 8 a.m., the NU Bulldogs will begin their redemption bid against the De La Salle University Green Shuttlers, while the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will face the University of Santo Tomas Golden Shuttlers.
On the women’s side, the Fighting Maroons will begin their quest for a league-leading tenth crown against the DLSU Lady Shuttlers. The resurgent UST Lady Shuttlers will also renew their rivalry with the NU Lady Bulldogs.
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