LIKE THEIR male counterparts, the UST Lady Shuttlers were eliminated from finals contention after a 3-0 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 women’s badminton semifinals at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
For the second consecutive year, the Lady Shuttlers will compete for the bronze medal against the NU Lady Bulldogs. Meanwhile, UP is set for a finals rematch against the defending champions, the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Season 86 top rookie Patricia De Leon yielded to UP’s Anthea Gonzales, 21-8, 21-11, before Fighting Maroon Susmita Ramos crushed UST’s Reshane Nicor, 21-12, 21-12.
With the Fighting Maroons up 2-0, UST squandered its chance to keep its finals hopes alive as Lady Shuttlers De Leon and Marielle Alvarez faltered against UP’s Gonzales and Kimberly Lao, 21-19, 21-15.
“Kaya nilang sumabay, pero binibitawan nila ‘yong chances, ‘yong opportunity na dapat point namin,” UST head coach Charlie Medina told the Varsitarian. “Again, bumabalik tayo sa impatience nila sa rally,”
Despite the Lady Shuttlers crashing out of finals contention, Medina remains hopeful that they will pull through to break their more than decade-long podium drought that started in Season 71.
“Ngayon, sinasabi natin sa mga players na hindi pa huli ang lahat, mayroon pa tayong another opportunity for tomorrow—do’n namin ibubuhos lahat,” he said. “Mapa-bronze man yan, at least naka-podium finish kami.”
The UST Lady Shuttlers will face the NU Lady Bulldogs in their bronze medal match at the same venue on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 1 p.m. with reports from James Michael M. Magboo
