THE UST Tiger Shuttlers bowed down to defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles, 5-0, sustaining their second loss in the UAAP Season 87 men’s badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Despite the loss, UST remains in the hunt for a Final Four spot as it dropped to fourth place with a 1-2 win-loss slate. Ateneo and NU had already punched their semifinals ticket with flawless 3-0 slates.
UST team Captain Lennox Cuilao fell to Ateneo’s Lance Vargas in their first singles match, 21-14, 21-18, before Ateneo’s Lyden Laborte pummeled Tiger Shuttler John Espinosa, 21-7, 21-9.
The Tiger Shuttlers’ duo of Ron Galvez and Janzen Panizales failed to keep the team’s winning hopes alive as they surrendered via a 21-10, 21-11 sweep to Blue Eagles Arthur Salvado and Vargas.
The second doubles matchup saw Cuilao and Aloysius Miraflor crumble against Ateneo’s Charles Bagasbas and Laborte, 21-15, 21-18.
The Blue Eagles rounded up the sweep with Salvado’s burying of Tiger Shuttler Haroun Sarmiento, 21-7, 21-14.
UST head coach Charlie Medina said the Tiger Shuttlers need to work on their composure during games, especially when facing a deficit.
“Masyado silang nada-down ‘pag sobrang bababa na ‘yong score. Hirap na hirap na; parang ayaw na nilang lumaban…nakakalimutan nila mag-enjoy,” Medina told the Varsitarian. “Sabi ko, let go. Let go, move on, and kailangan talaga na ma-enjoy ‘yong laro.”
Medina hopes the Tiger Shuttlers can adjust in time for their clash against NU next week.
“Adjustment [sa] commitment nila sa training and d’on sa sleeping habits and pag ma-mindsetting—‘yon talaga ‘yong kailangan namin, ‘yung commitment nila,” the coach said. “Hopefully, next week with NU, mailabas talaga nila ‘yong laro nila.”
The UST Tiger Shuttlers will next face the NU Bulldogs at the same venue on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 8 a.m. Venerando P. Pagaduan VII with reports from Patrice Jerica A. Beltran
