THE University of the Philippines Lady Fighting Maroons have been unbeatable in badminton competition in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
They look poised to continue that winning run and team manager Pacita Co is confident that they will go on to win their third consecutive UAAP championship this year.
“We are expecting to get the title again this year. We are aiming to get the three-peat. We’ve already won two titles in a row. Hopefully, we will be able to achieve it (three-peat). That is our goal,” said Co.
The Lady Fighting Maroons return a powerhouse lineup of former UAAP Most Valuable Players Jessie Francisco and Bea Bernardo as well as last season’s Rookie of the Year Lea Inlayo along with Marina Caculitan and Jeline Lopez Masongsong.
The powerhouse squad then got even better with two key additions Poca Alcala and Gelita Castilo.
“They (Alcala and Castilo) were both my former players. Alcala was supposed to play last year. Gelita our other new player is actually a veteran. She transferred. She used to play under my club (Allied Victor Badminton Academy). She played for the national team and then joined Ateneo. She lost her spot at Ateneo so we gave her a chance,” said Co.
Castilo is herself a former UAAP MVP and Rookie of the Year who has been absent from competition the past two seasons.
“We’re happy that she’s (Castilo) with us. Last year they (Alcala and Castilo) were already with the team. But they were not allowed to play. This year we hope to get the three-peat with their help,” said Co.
This season Alcala and Castilo led UP to three consecutive victories (actually their 21st consecutive victory spanning three UAAP seasons) over Ateneo, La Salle and University of Santo Tomas. So far, Alcala has won two singles and three doubles matches. Castilo has won three singles and two doubles matches.
Both the UP men’s and ladies’ teams steamrolled past rivals Ateneo, La Salle and UST to vault to the top of the standings. Team officials hope the trend continues the rest of the tournament.
The UP team manager said the biggest obstacle will be La Salle for the ladies team. For the men’s team, the biggest obstacle will be NU and La Salle. She said the men’s team may not be as star-studded as the ladies’ team, but they more than make up for it with their never-say-die spirit.
“Hopefully, the men’s team will also win the title. It will be more difficult. But we believe the men’s team is also capable of winning. They are all fired up. They really want to move up. They’ve been in fourth place for three years. My aim is for them to just move up. But they have the heart to move higher,” said Co.
While UP’s newbie veterans Alcala and Castilo may have been dominant their past few games last year’s Rookie of the Year Inlayo has been spectacular. Rather than playing with finesse and guile like most female players Inlayo relies on speed and power, complete with a jump smash, like her male counterparts.
The pretty Inlayo seems to transform whenever she takes the badminton court. She plays with so much naked aggression that friends and spectators alike often tell her she plays like a man rather than a girl.
“I’m used to being told that I play like a man. I don’t mind really. I just tell them that appearances and demeanor are not important while on the court. I always focus on winning the point and I don’t really pay attention to my appearance. I just remember to play my best and stay humble,” Inlayo said.
Inlayo and Castilo started tentatively against Ateneo’s Bianca Carlos and Chanelle Lunod during their schools’ second doubles match. The UP tandem trailed 6-11 in the early going before they tightened the screws against their opponents. Castilo’s clever shot-making and Inlayo’s blazing smashes propelled the duo to 21-16 victory. The second set was even more lopsided with the UP pair prevailing 21-14.
Inlayo again teamed up with Castilo to prevail in the first doubles match against La Salle with UP winning the tie, 4-1. With Inlayo playing so well coach Tosi Alcasid finally gave her the chance to play in a singles match against UST. Inlayo, the pride of Antipolo City, acquitted herself well with a straight set 21-8, 21-14 victory.
A national juniors player in girls doubles and mixed doubles, Inlayo said she didn’t have any difficulty adjusting to playing alone.
“I felt okay. I didn’t feel awkward. It was a different case last year when I just practiced and played in doubles. This year I trained in singles as well. Everyone in the UP team now train for singles matches. I didn’t feel any pressure. I just tried to enjoy every game and kept thinking that this is for UP,” said Inlayo.
The UP ladies badminton team has been unbeaten for the past three seasons. The girls are hoping to preserve that win streak and garner the coveted three-peat. The men’s badminton team, which placed fourth the past two seasons, isn’t doing too badly either. They are unbeaten in their first three matches.
UP coach Alcasid and team officials are silently hoping to preserve both streaks and win not just a three-peat but a double championship as well.