THE UST Golden Shuttlers crashed to sixth place in the UAAP Season 81 badminton tournament with an identical 1-5 win-loss record at the Rizal Memorial Sport Complex last Sept. 24 to Oct. 12.
The National University (NU) took home the UAAP title for the fifth-straight year.
The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Ateneo de Manila University secured the second and third places, respectively.
The Male Shuttlers’ top-tier players John Paul Yabut, Kristian Barrios, Juan Miguel Santiago, Josh Olin Defensor and Russel Enriquez failed to win simultaneously to secure team-tie victories.
Barrios and Santiago won their games against De La Salle University and the Adamson University, but Yabut and the tandem of Defensor and Enriquez faltered against their respective foes.
Yabut was victorious gainst Ateneo and UP, but the two doubles’ pair of UST played below the expectations and lost in their respective games.
The Male Shuttlers’ only win was a 5-0 demolition of the winless University of the East (UE).
Head coach RJ Ormilla said the Male Shuttlers’ inability to keep their momentum in close matches contributed to their downfall.
UST came up short against UP and Adamson, finishing 2-3 in the respective matches.
“’Yon ang isa sa pinaka-problema ng players ko, hindi nila naha-handle ‘yong pressure. Nandoon na pero kinukulang pa,” the two-year tactician said.
The Male Shuttlers will miss the services of Yabut and Barrios next year after exhausting their playing years.
Slight improvement
In women’s play, the rookie-laden Lady Shuttlers improved from their winless Season 80 campaign and downed UE, 5-0, to gain sixth place this year.
“Na-meet naman nila ang expectations ko kasi ang gusto ko lang naman ay matalo namin ang UE paraat least umangat kami ng isa kasi the rest of the teams, talagang established na sila,” Ormilla said.
Despite the slight improvement, Ormilla lamented the team’s lack of will to win and determination.
“Ineexpect ko sana next year mas mag-improve pa sila kasi bata pa naman ‘yong mga players and mayroom for improvement pa,” he said.
