THE UST Lady Shuttlers tallied their first victory of the season against the Adamson Lady Falcons, 4-1, in the UAAP Season 87 women’s badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Lady Shuttler Patricia De Leon started the game strong, outmuscling Marriane Barcelona in their singles match, 21-18, 21-16.
Adamson’s Key Fuerte responded by sweeping Angelina Vitangcol, 15-21, 15-21, to knot the matchup at 1-all.
In the first doubles game, the Lady Shuttler duo of Jennifer Saladaga and Rhafi Santos made quick work of Adamson’s Camille Buagas and Graziel Cabriga, 21-10, 21-16.
De Leon and Marielle Alvarez then banded together in the second doubles match to seal UST’s victory, routing Lady Falcons Justin Barasona and Jennifer Ondol, 21-10, 21-14.
Lady Shuttler Reshane Nicor capped the victory by overcoming Adamson’s Aleyha Villanueva, 21-11, 11-21, 21-10.
UST head coach Charlie Medina said the Lady Shuttlers need to display their mental resilience in the upcoming games to survive the stiff competition.
“Kailangan talaga nilang maging mentally tough kasi hindi rin basta-basta ‘yong mga kalaban namin,” Medina told the Varsitarian. “Nagte-training sila abroad and maraming malalakas at top caliber na player.”
The UST Lady Shuttlers will next face the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the same venue on Saturday, Oct, 20, at 1 p.m. Venerando P. Pagaduan VII with reports from Djenhard Yreneo Raphael Y. Sapanhila