THE UST Male Shuttlers advanced to the Final Four for the first time since 2012 after pounding the Ateneo De Manila University, 5-0, in the UAAP Season 80 badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Thursday.
The Male Shuttlers swept Ateneo to go up the third spot in the standings with a 3-3 slate.
Despite sharing identical records with Ateneo and De La Salle University, UST clinched a semis spot due to a superior quotient.
Male Shuttler John Edgar Reyes drew first blood after surviving Carlo Remo, 21-19, 14-21, 21-19.
UST’s Mark Sotea and Jan Edgar Reyes repulsed Ateneo’s Remo-Keoni Asuncion tandem in a 21-23, 21-16, 21-19 thriller to secure the victory.
Male Shuttler Diego Christian Yabut knocked out Asuncion, 12-21, 22-20, 21-19, in the fifth match to complete the sweep.
“Hiningi ko lang na makabangon kami pero higit pa roon ang nangyari kasi bihira na [ma-sweep ang Ateneo,]” UST head coach RJ Ormilla told the Varsitarian.
But the Lady Shuttlers ended their winless UAAP campaign after taking a 0-5 beating from last year’s finalist Ateneo.
The women’s team finished the season with a 0-7 record, its worst showing since 1999.
Ateneo’s Bianca Carlos and Patrisha Malabanan scored quick wins against the Lady Shuttlers.
Lady Eagles Chanelle Lunod and Bianca Carlos also dominated UST’s pair of Maria Victoria Vizmonte and Ann Pimentel, 21-12, 21-9, to seal their Final Four seat.
The semifinals will begin on Sunday at the same venue.
