HISTORY WAS MADE on both floors as the San Beda Red Smashers’ four-year-long dominance in the Men’s Division came to an end while the Women’s squad captured their first-ever championship in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 Badminton Tournament on November 21 at Centro Atletico in Quezon City.
Despite breezing through the eliminations and semifinals, the Men’s squad failed to defend their Season 99 title after falling short against the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Blazing Shuttlers in the championship match, 1-2.
Fortunately, the Women’s squad avenged last Season’s silver finish, dethroning the San Sebastian College – Recoletos (SSC-R) Badminton Team, 2-1, to seize its inaugural Women’s Division title.
Down a point in the Men’s finals, the pairing of Arjay Lazareto and Joaquin Pollentes swept Benilde’s Ranie Mullet and Troy Oliveres in the doubles, evening the series and forcing a deciding game.
However, Krenz Valeña failed to overcome the Blazing Shuttlers’ Alron Alonzo in the second singles, ending the Mendiola squad’s hopes of defending their title in the centennial edition of the NCAA.
It was the same script for the Women’s side as Dana Navarro dropped the first game against San Sebastian’s Khea Montanez, 0-1.
Regardless, the Red Smasher duo of Chay Red and Melody Galicia evened out the field with a swift victory over Julliana Gonzaga and Luzviminda Gaba, 1-1.
Team Captain Isabella Pollentes pulled through in the second singles after dismantling Andrea Villamor, giving the Women’s squad their first title in a 2-1 team victory.
“We’ve been wanting this before. It’s been three years na second kami and [since] this is the first time na nag-champion kami kaya for us, this is very important to us,” Lady Red Smashers Head Coach Rocky Magnaye expressed in an interview with The Bedan.
Moreover, he also emphasized the “team effort” behind the championship for the Women’s team.
“It’s all about the efforts ng mga players and hindi lang mga players na naglalaro [kung hindi ang] buong team—pati mga coaching staff and even ‘yung support na nakukuha namin sa San Beda, malaking bagay sa motivation ng mga players,” he added.
Regardless of the split outcomes for the Men’s and Women’s, Magnaye remains optimistic about what is in store for San Beda’s badminton program, saying “Looking forward, talagang malaki ang future ng San Beda Badminton Team.”
Pollentes was named Most Valuable Player in the Women’s side, while Renzo Barlinan earned Rookie of the Year plums in the Men’s Division. Magnaye was also awarded as the Coach of the Year.