THE UST Tiger Shuttlers crashed out of finals contention, falling to the NU Bulldogs, 3-0, in the knockout semifinals match of the UAAP Season 87 men’s badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
With the loss, the Tigers Shuttlers’ remaining chance to snap their 11-year podium drought will be in their bronze medal rematch against the UP Fighting Maroons. Meanwhile, NU advanced to the finals and will face Ateneo.
This marks the third straight year UST missed the men’s badminton finals after faltering in the Final Four.
“Sobrang pressured na sila. Gusto nilang manalo pero ‘yon nga, nag-error sila, masyadong tensed sa laro,” UST head coach Charlie Medina told the Varsitarian. “Hindi nila napakita talaga ‘yong gustong mangyari ng team.”
“Today’s match, talagang mabigat sa amin na ang nakatapat namin sa Final Four is NU, which is a dominating team sa singles and doubles.”
NU zoomed to a 2-0 advantage after Lanz Zafra’s 21-13, 21-7 beatdown of Tiger Shuttler team captain Lennox Cuilao, and Bulldog Mark Velasco’s 21-6, 21-7 rout of UST’s Haroun Sarmiento.
UST’s duo of Cuilao and Bien Miraflor failed to avert the sweep, succumbing to the NU duo Solomon Padiz Jr. and Jeno Cariño, 21-19, 21-14.
The second doubles and third singles matches were not played.
Despite the loss, Medina remains hopeful that the Tiger Shuttlers will finish on the podium.
“Kailangan naming i-push ‘yong bawat isa na lumaban hanggang dulo,” he said,
“Kung ano ‘yong ginawa nila noong pagkapanalo nila no’ng Sunday against DLSU, dapat ganoon ‘yong ma-translate namin na talagang habol kung habol,” he added. “Tambak man ‘yong score, humahabol sila at gustong manalo.”
The UST Tiger Shuttlers will battle the UP Fighting Maroons for third place on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 8 a.m. at the same venue. with reports from James Michael M. Magboo
