Chanelle Lunod made sure to leave behind a winning legacy in her final year donning the Ateneo de Manila University colors.
The Blue Eagles gave the outgoing senior a well-deserved parting gift.
Lunod had a memorable performance in her last dance with Ateneo as she delivered the title-clinching victory in the Blue Eagles’ 3-2 win over University of the Philippines to complete a three-peat in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 women’s badminton tournament at the Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Cubao, Quezon City.
With the championship on the line, the graduating lady shuttler outdueled fellow senior Lea Inlayo in the third and final singles match the went the distance, 22-20, 20-22, 21-18, to hand Ateneo its sixth title in the sport and first crown for the university this season.
“That last game was anybody’s game, I wasn’t really expecting (to win), although I wanted to win. It was a shaky game, a very close fight, and I’m happy to deliver,” Lunod said.
Lunod was awarded her third straight Most Valuable Player award she shared with team captain Mika De Guzman.
Ateneo’s Jochelle Alvarez and Missy Cervantes forced the rubbermatch after defeating the Fighting Maroons tandem of rookie Anthea Gonzalez and Andrea Abalos in the second doubles match, 21-7, 17-21, 21-12, paving the way for Lunod’s heroic farewell game.
“We’re super happy because we know that this season will be difficult. We expected UP to be a strong team and we know it can go either way, so we’re super happy,” Ateneo head coach Kennie Asuncion-Robles said after toppling an opponent that ruled the Smart Intercollegiate Badminton Tournament just a month ago.
De Guzman powered the Blue Eagles in drawing first blood after a quick work of Susmita Ramos, 21-7, 21-14, in the first singles match.
Gonzalez avenged UP’s loss in the second singles match with a clinical work of Jochelle Alvarez, 21-15, 21-15.
National doubles stalwarts Inlayo and Ramos gave the Fighting Maroons a 2-1 advantage with a 21-16, 21-11, beating of Lunod and De Guzman in the first doubles match.
National University, meanwhile, salvaged a second straight bronze medal after seniors Jeya Pinlac and Gwyneth Desacola closed the tie, 21-10, 17-21, 21-16, in the second doubles match for a 3-1 win over De La Salle University.
