ISU-Ilagan Shuttlers Battle for Glory in Intense Intramurals Badminton Finals

Cheers, chants, and the sharp sound of shuttlecocks filled the ISU-Ilagan Gymnasium as the best players

from the four tribes battled for badminton supremacy in the Intramurals 2025 Championship Finals. The

crowd was electric, and the energy reached its peak when Air Nomad’s Josh Edmund Areola and Water

Tribe’s John Mark Dumape clashed in an unforgettable Men’s Singles A showdown that kept spectators

on their feet until the final smash.

From the first serve, the air buzzed with tension. Both players entered the court with fiery

determination . Areola banking on his deadly smashes, while Dumape countered with calm, strategic

placements. The first set saw a breathtaking rally of points, locked at 15–15, with each attack answered

by another. Roars echoed from both sides as the intensity rose. Dumape, however, faltered in the final

moments, committing crucial errors that allowed Areola to seize the first set, 21–17, to the delight of

the Air Nomad crowd.

But Dumape refused to go down easily. Fueled by the cheers of his tribe, he fought back fiercely in the

second set, controlling the pace with deceptive drop shots and well-placed drives that left Areola

guessing. The Water Tribe section erupted in unison with every point as Dumape dominated the rallies,

closing the set 21–13. The score was now tied, and the gym trembled with anticipation for a deciding

set.

In the third and final set, both players pushed their limits, diving, lunging, and shouting after every point.

Areola surged to an early 5–2 lead with his signature smashes, but Dumape answered with precise

placements to tie it 10–10, setting up an all-out war of endurance. The crowd went wild, each side

chanting louder after every rally. Areola, breathing heavily yet focused, regained momentum with clever

placements to lead 17–15. Dumape tried to catch up, but Areola’s powerful cross-court line shot at

19–17 became the turning point. After a tense exchange, Dumape’s return went wide, giving Areola the

win, 21–19.

“Sobrang overwhelming kasi andami kong pinagdaanan sa match na 'yun,” Areola said, in his post-

interview. “Sinasabi ko lang sa sarili ko na kailangan kong manalo para 'yung support na binigay ng mga

friends ko tsaka ng girlfriend ko hindi masayang".

Meanwhile, in the Women’s Singles A category, Sarah Agriam of Earth Kingdom clinched the title after

outlasting Fire Nation’s Samantha Miguel in another three-set thriller, 21–15, 17–21, 21–18. Miguel,

who suffered a knee scrape late in the match, bravely continued, but Agriam’s decisive smash to the

right zone sealed her championship. “Masaya ako dahil sa kabila ng nakakapagod na match na halos

mawalan ako ng hininga ay napanalo parin.Iniisip ko lang na kaya ko syempre sa dami na din ng

experience ko sa paglalaro kailangan mo lang talagang maniwala sa sarili mo. Agriam shared after her

game.

In other categories, Water Tribe’s Amigo Crisologo captured the Men’s Singles B crown, overcoming Air

Nomad’s Mordecai Andaya in a grueling three-set match, 21–11, 19–21, 21–10.

The Men’s Doubles title went to Earth Kingdom’s duo Francisco B. Manabat and Mark Lesther F.

Dabban, who battled through a tight contest against Air Nomad’s Von Eliezer Soriano and Marc Cedric

Lapitan, ending 21–18, 18–21, 21–19.

Rounding out the finals, the Women’s Doubles division saw Water Tribe’s Michelle Santos and Ashley

Agustin dominate Earth Kingdom’s Jessica Javar and Bea Arce in straight sets, 21–9, 21–11, displaying

flawless coordination and powerful attacks.

Article by Imelet Lagmay