THE UST Tiger Shuttlers secured bronze in the 2025 Philippine Intercollegiate Badminton Championship held Sept. 5-8 at the MIA Badminton Court in Pasay City.
The win marked the first time the Tiger Shuttles finished on the tournament’s podium since joining four years ago.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles, who ousted the Tiger Shuttlers and Lady Shuttlers in the semifinals, defeated the UP Fighting Maroons for the championship.
UST fell into a 2-0 deficit, as Tiger Shuttler Lennox Cuilao dropped the men’s singles match to Ateneo’s Robby Ramos, 21-8, 21-14. In the women’s singles, Lady Shuttler Hanie De Jesus yielded to Althea Ocampo, 21-13, 21-9.
In the men’s doubles, Tiger Shuttlers John Espinoza and Janzen Panizales thwarted the Ateneo duo of Charles Bagasbas and Allen Penute, 21-10, 21-16.
However, UST’s Marielle Alvarez and Jennifer Saladaga faltered against Angel Valle and Jochelle Alvarez in a thriller, 21-9, 19-21, 18-21, to settle for bronze.
“This is a good start as a team, kasi ito na ‘yong pinaka-pre-season namin bago ang UAAP,” UST team captain Ivan Tuazon told the Varsitarian. “Hindi dapat isa lang ang mag perform or dalawa lang; dapat lahat mag-perform kasi kailangan namin ng magandang collaboration as a team.”
In the UAAP, the Tiger Shuttlers last finished on the podium in Season 76, while the Lady Shuttlers’ most recent podium finish was in Season 71.
