THE UST Tiger Shuttlers bowed down to the defending champion NU Bulldogs, 4-1, for their second loss in the UAAP Season 88 men’s badminton tournament at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
The Tiger Shuttlers now stand at 1-2, while the Bulldogs improved to 3-0.
UST’s Juan Miguel Sison fell to Bulldog Lanz Zafra in the first singles match to open the game, 21-6, 21-8.
Lenox Cuilao responded for UST, earning their lone win of the matchup with a hard-fought three-set match against NU’s Marcjoel Perez, 23-21, 20-22, 23-21.
John Vincent Espinoza and Janez Panisales then lost to the NU pair of John Benedic Gam and James Ryan Villarente, 21-15, 21-19.
Ron Jacob Galve and Bien Miraflor yielded to Zafra and Perez in the second doubles match, 21-13, 21-12.
In the third singles match, UST team captain Ivan Tuazon failed to notch his first individual win of the season as NU’s Miko Mosarbas handed him his third straight loss, 22-20, 21-17.
“Kung mayroon mang kailangang baguhin, siguro ‘yong consistency nila.” UST coach R-Jay Ormilla told the Varsitarian. “Hindi ko kasi masyadong masabi kung na-excite ba sila masyado kasi hindi consistent ‘yong laro nila.”
“Both on and off (game) na-experience na nila… Sinabi ko nga sa kanila makukuha lang natin na lahat tayo mag-function as one, sigurado may kalalagyan sila sa atin,” he added.
The Tiger Shuttlers will look to bounce back against last season’s silver medalist, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, tomorrow, Oct. 16, at the same venue. Kurt Russel Vincent Miranda
