Old rivals Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University will have a repeat of their semifinal battle in the 75th UAAP men’s badminton on September 2 after the Archers easily dispatched University of Santo Tomas, 3-0, on Monday.

This time, however, La Salle is the third seed while Ateneo is the second seed, giving it a twice-to-beat advantage.

Last year, the Archers worked their way to be recipients of the twice-to-beat bonus only to be erased by the Eagles, who eventually took the title.

Skipper Ronel Estanislao beat RJ Ormilla, 22-20, 21-19, in the first singles and later joined forces with Lance Bautista to a 18-21, 21-16, 21-14 victory over Salvador Kapunan and Ormilla in the first doubles to seal the tie for the Archers.

La Salle's other win came in the second singles after John Kenneth Monterubio downed Kit Benjude Cajefe, 21-9, 21-16.

By completing a seven-game sweep of the eliminations, National University advanced to the championship round last Sunday and will have to be beaten thrice before the survivor of the stepladder semifinals gets the crown.

In the distaff side, UST dethroned University of the East, 3-1, to clinch the last semifinal spot.

The Lady Eagles took the outright championship berth and the thrice-to-beat bonus after winning all their seven elimination matches.