October 3, 2015, 6:42p.m. – THE UST Golden Shuttlers crashed out of Final Four contention after dropping their do-or-die games in the UAAP Season 78 badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Complex badminton hall Saturday.
The Male Shuttlers suffered another meltdown in a 2-3 loss against De La Salle University in the latter matches while the Female Shuttlers succumbed to the Ateneo de Manila University, 1-4 defeat.
Paul John Pantig and Mark Sotea gave UST a 2-0 advantage after winning their respective singles games but the team dropped three straight matches afterward.
“’Yung game plan, makuha ‘yung dalawang [singles], tapos makakuha kami ng isang doubles. Pagdating sa doubles, nag-collapse. Tuluy-tuloy na [yun] hanggang dulo,” UST head coach Noli Cajefe told the Varsitarian.
The Female Shuttler’s lone win came from a forfeiture when Ateneo’s Trixie Malibiran went down from a left knee injury in the final match. Another knee injury from UST’s Ma. Victoria Vizmonte gave Ateneo the automatic win in the first match.
Both the Male and Female Shuttlers slipped to a 2-4 win-loss record and are out of the Final Four Race.
They can still retain last year’s fifth place finish if they defeat Adamson University tomorrow.
