EMILIO Aguinaldo College (EAC) finally won an NCAA title as it downed Arellano University, 2-1, after topping the men’s and doubles badminton finals Thursday at the Powersmash courts in Makati City.
It was the Generals’ first-ever championship in any sport since the school joined the league in 2009.
Doubles partners Arcival Balaquit and Nathaniel Pineda pounced on the errors committed by Arellano counterparts Jay-ar Aguinaldo and Mark Corong to score a 21-19, 12-21, 21-17 victory.
Season MVP Kim Santos then clinched the title for the Generals by handily beating Cyril Gloria, 21-6, 21-10, in the deciding singles.
EAC actually won the event for the second straight year after ruling it last season when it was still a demonstration sport.
“Proud ako sa mga players ko. Napatunayan namin na kaya naming mag back-to-back,” said EAC mentor Winifredo Albo.
“May mga players pa kaming dini-develop. Kailangan namin ng good training kaya nagagawa namin ito, especially sa mga upcoming na players,” he added.
Arellano actually drew first blood as Emmen Roldan defeated Aldrin Gonzalez, 21-15, 18-21, 21-12, in the opening singles.
In the women’s division, College of Saint Benilde completed a perfect season after beating Mapua, 2-0, in the finals Tuesday.
The Lady Blazers clinched their second consecutive crown in the demo event.
Nikki Servando, who won her second straight MVP honors, beat Germaine Manguliman, 21-2, 21-6, in the first singles, while Alizandra Candelaria and Danielle Escobar won it all for St. Benilde with a 21-9, 21-9 victory over Reyma Carbonel and Sunny Baylon in doubles play.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
