Archrivals Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle University set up a championship

showdown in the UAAP Season 82 women's badminton tournament on Wednesday at the Centro
Atletico Badminton Center.

Ateneo, the defending champions, needed just three matches to stop National University (NU) and
secure their second straight championship appearance.

Last year's co-Most Valuable Players Chanelle Lunod and Geva De Vera shook off the challenge of
Gwen Desacola and Jeya Pinlac in the lone doubles match at 21-18, 21-16, to take the win.

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Lunod earlier flexed her muscles in a two-set conquest of rookie Kate Amigable, 21-7, 21-17, to open
the sweep. Ateneo's own newbie Mika De Guzman then made short work of NU captain Jiselle
Capillo, 21-14, 21-5, for the 2-0 advantage.

"So far, so good," Ateneo head coach Kennie Asuncion said on the team's performance so far. "We
just have to stay grounded and focused, because it is not yet over."

La Salle, which won the title in UAAP Season 80, likewise punched their ticket to the finals after
taking revenge on University of the Philippines (UP), 3-1.

Rookie Palma Cruz and Shaynne Boloron once again clinched the win for La Salle, crushing Andrea
Abalos and Marie Lopez, 21-10, 21-9, in the second doubles match.

Skipper Iyah Sevilla earlier put La Salle in the lead at 2-1 after taking his two outings for the day.
The national team standout turned back Jaja Andres, 21-11, 22-24, 21-11 in the opening singles
rubber, before getting the first doubles match with Kanna Baba, 21-9, 21-2 over Andre's and Tricia
Opon.

But UP rookie Aldreen Concepcion was unperturbed in singles matches with a 21-16, 14-21, 21-13
decision over Mia Manguilimotan in the second singles match.

"Yung start namin medyo shaky. Pero bago kami pumasok nung weekend, nagkaroon kami ng
session with sports psychologist," said Sevilla. "It was the turning point. It served as a wake-up call."

The first tie of the best-of-three finals series between Ateneo and La Salle is scheduled on Friday,
October 4, at the same Quezon City venue. UP and NU dispute the third place in a playoff tie on the
same day.