THE UST Tiger Shuttlers dominated the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 5-0, to notch their first win in the UAAP Season 86 men’s badminton tournament at the Centro Atletico Badminton Center in Cubao on Sunday, Oct. 29.
Lennox Cuilao made quick work of Adamson’s Nathan Acedillo, 21-11, 21-9, while Sean de la Cruz swept Soaring Falcon Harold Bonilla, 21-18, 21-9, in the first two singles matches.
UST’s duo of Kyle Basilio and Munir Bartolome bucked a slow start and eventually prevailed in three sets over Adamson’s Noel Hernandez and Gabriel Ganoy in the doubles category, 18-21, 21-18, 21-11.
With UST already securing the win after a 3-0 start, Cuilao and Tiger Shuttler Janzen Panisales continued to display their dominance over Adamson’s Kyles Corcuera and David Libanan in the second doubles play, 25-23, 21-17.
Ivan Tuazon completed UST’s sweep with a 21-7, 21-9 drubbing of Adamson’s Reniel Jusi.
“Talagang minindset namin yung 5-0 para makabawi kami sa kahapon na pagkatalo ng 4-1,” UST head coach Charlie Medina told the Varsitarian. “Gusto namin na matapos ‘yung week na maganda ‘yung record.”
In women’s play, the UST Lady Shuttlers fought hard but fell short against the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles, 3-2.
After trailing two-matches-to-one, the Lady Shuttlers’ duo of Patricia de Leon and Marielle Alvarez kept UST alive with a 21-16, 21-17 rout of Ateneo’s Missy Cervantes and Maxene Olango.
However, Blue Eagle Jochelle Alvarez dominated UST’s team captain Clara Ignacio in the decider, 21-13, 21-7.
Earlier, Alvarez paired up with Ateneo’s team captain Mika de Guzman in the doubles category to sweep UST’s Rhafi Santos and Jen Saladaga, 21-17, 21-18.
De Leon won the opening singles match for UST, outlasting Angel Valle, 21-18, 22-20, while Lady Shuttler Lizzy Belen succumbed to De Guzman, 21-3, 21-17.
The Tiger Shuttlers will next face National University on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the same time and venue.
