By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Lance Vargas played a key role as the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles clinched the UAAP Season 86 men’s badminton crown by dethroning the National University Bulldogs, 3-2, at the Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Cubao, Quezon City.

The Bacolod City-native rookie defeated Bulldogs’ Mark Velasco in a thrilling final game to bag the match and the championship at 10-21, 21-9, 21-13, for the Blue Eagles.

After losing the opening set and rebounding in the second, the former Trinity Christian School standout Vargas raced to an 11-8 lead in the third set and never looked back.

The 19-year-old Rookie of the Year awardee eventually finished the match with an emphatic short drive to Velasco’s body, ending both the match and the 10-year title drought of Ateneo.

“I was actually shocked by my performance, but my mindset heading into the game was just do my best and whatever the outcome is, I will just enjoy the game,” Vargas said.

“It was the most important match because [it was] do-or-die. So I just focused on every point and, eventually, won it,” the No. 4 ranked men’s singles player in the country added.

Blue Eagles captain Arthur Salvado, Jr. and Lyrden Laborte were named co-Most Valuable Players as they put Ateneo on a huge 2-0 advantage in the first two singles matches, but the Bulldogs bounced back in the next two matches for a 2-2 score.

“I’m very happy with how the boys performed. I always knew that they had it in them, and they finally showed it. I’m beyond proud of the team,” Ateneo head coach Kennie Asuncion said.

Ateneo later completed a golden double as they captured the women’s crown by defeating rival University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 3-1, in the finals.

Mika de Guzman and Jochelle Alvarez were crowned co-Most Valuable Players as they steered the Blue Eagles to their fourth consecutive championship./ASC, WDJ