Ateneo Girls Badminton Varsity strikes gold in PAYA tournament

Student-athletes from the Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) and Senior High School (ASHS) emerged as champions in the girls’ division of the Philippine Athletic Youth Association (PAYA) Badminton Tournament held at Centro Atletico, Quezon City last 22 February 2026.

The members of the team include Team Captain Roj Medrano (12-Miki), Oracle Abaya (11-Goupil), Mia Benasa (11-Wright), and Princess Leonen (11-Torres) from the ASHS, while Thia Bautista (8-Dajani) is the sole member of the team from AJHS. They were coached by Luisa Quitalig-Reyes.

The Blue Eagles delivered a standout performance, opening with Mia Benasa’s strong singles win over Colegio San Agustin and backed by Roj Medrano & Princess Leonen’s dominating doubles play. Though Leonen later dropped a singles match to De La Salle Zobel, the team rallied with Bautista & Medrano's doubles victory, with Benasa sealing the win in the deciding singles match, showcasing their skill, teamwork, and resilience on the court.

The PAYA tournament is an interschool athletic league among participating schools in Metro Manila that provides student-athletes with opportunities to compete, develop their skills, and represent their schools across a range of sports disciplines. It promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, and excellence while fostering camaraderie among young athletes from different schools.