By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--UP's long UAAP women's badminton streak came to an end on Sunday after Ateneo took a 3-2 win in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Trixie Malibiran clinched the round for the Lady Eagles in the final singles match to snap the Lady Maroons' streak which started in 2014 at 25.
Bianca Carlos drew first blood for Ateneo after beating Malvine Alcala in the first singles, 21-11, 21-11, while Samantha Ramos trounced Gelita Castilo, 21-19, 21-19, in the second singles to make it 2-0.
UP bounced back in the doubles matches as Alcala and Jessie Francisco downed the team of Carlos and Chanelle Lunod, 21-18, 21-11, and the pair of Castilo and Eleonor Inlayo defeated the tandem of Joella De Vera and Cassandra Lim, 21-12, 21-16.
Malibiran won it for the Lady Eagles after a 21-17, 21-9 victory over Paola Bernardo in the deciding match.
Ateneo, which entered the final phase of the stepladder playoffs after going through three do-or-die ties including the elimination of twice-to-beat La Salle in the semifinals, can clinch the championship in Game 2 of the finals on Tuesday at the said venue.
The Lady Eagles last won the title in 2013 before the Lady Maroons completely dominated the 2014 and 2015 seasons through full season sweeps to win back-to-back plums.
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