THE ELUSIVE crown will have to wait another year.
UST suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat in the hands of defending champion Far Eastern University, slamming the door on the Tiger Shuttlecockers’ bid for their first ever UAAP badminton title since the sport’s inclusion in 1995.
After an opening day domination of University of the East, 4-1, UST found itself in a position to dislodge powerhouse Far Eastern University last Jan. 25 at the Rizal Badminton Hall.
UST’s Ricky Bartolome needed almost two hours to outlast national team member Wilson Frias, 13-15, 15-11, 15-11, in the first singles match. But Frias, last year’s UAAP Most Valuabale Player and a Southeast Asian Games gold medallist, overwhelmed Tiger Alfredo Mailon, Jr., 15-2, 15-4, to tie the game, 1-all.
The tandem of Bartolome and Reynaldo Selga gave UST a 2-1 lead as they beat Mark Natividad and Chrisopher Flores, 15-12, 11-15.
UST, however, bungled its chance as FEU clawed its way back to win the game. Frias and Escoses teamed up in the second doubles to beat Mailon, Jr. and Ryan Conde in one hour and 35 minutes, 10-15, 17-14, 17-14. In the deciding singles, Natividad, last year’s rookie of the year, stunned Selga, rallying from a 10-11 deficit to win the final set, 15-7, 6-15, 15-11.
With UST out of the championship race, the Tiger Shuttlecockers vented their ire on University of the Philippines, climbing back from a 0-2 deficit to win the game, 3-2, and stay on track for a runner-up finish last Feb. 1.
UST went off to a poor start as UP’s Marlon Villarin beat Selga in the opening singles, 15-10, 15-10, while National team member Jaime Junio, Jr. dealt Mailon, Jr. a 15-11, 15-12 loss.
UST began its masterful comeback with Bartolome and Selga whipping the tandem of Ben Jonas Garcia and Villarin, 15-3, 15-12. Mailon, Jr. and Conde downed Junio Jr. and Ace Domingo, 15-11, 15-17, 17-16, to tie the game at 2-apiece.
In the deciding singles, Bartolome met little resistance from Garcia, 15-7, 15-10.
UST badminton coach Noli Cajefe expects smooth sailing against the cellar-dweller De La Salle University in their last game to put the first runner-up trophy in the bag.
“Mahina lang ‘yung men’s ng La Salle, baka nga ma-five-zero namin sila. Sayang lang talaga ‘yung talo ko sa FEU,” Cajefe said.
Stunning upset
The Lady Shuttlecockers were not as fancied as their male counterparts in the tournament with powerhouses De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University still intact. But a stunning win by the Lady Shuttlecockers over Ateneo, 3-2, and an FEU win over defending champion DLSU last Jan. 31 boosted their chances of improving their second runner-up finish last year as they will battle the Taft-based shuttlecockers in their final game.
In their thrilling win over Ateneo, UST banked on the heroics of veteran Dianah Barbo, who is in her final playing year
Barbo dealt Aurora Co an 11-7, 11-8, loss to gain the early upper hand. Irene Chiu tied the game as she won over Kathleen Añasco, 11-3, 11-6. Chiu later teamed up with Macy Co in blasting the pair of Barbo and Sandy Banquiles, 15-6, 15-10.
UST top doubles tandem Añasco and Lyka Leonor increased the Tigresses’ chances as they defeated the pair of Aurora Co and Adelaine Po, 15-3, 15-10. Leonor turned the game around completely for UST as she easily handled Andrea Go, 11-1, 11-9 in the deciding singles.
In their opening game, the Lady Shuttlecockers dropped a 4-1 loss to the much-improved FEU.
Lady Tamaraw Chona Rivera easily disposed off Leonor, 11-7, 11-6, in 25 minutes. Barbo’s game was the only bright spot as the senior player rallied past behind Mary Ann Crisostomo, 2-11, 11-8, 11-2, in 31 minutes. Leonor and Añasco were overwhelemed by Criselda Sarabia and Crisostomo in a 15-1, 15-1 defeat in just 20 minutes.
FEU’s Mary Sebastian needed 40 minutes to beat Banquiles in the second doubles, 15-9, 15-10. And Sarabia completed FEU’s romp-off with an 11-6, 11-5 win over Añasco.
UST scored an easy victory over UP, 4-1.
Barbo blasted Ronnilie Kagalingan, 11-6, 4-11, 11-8. Añasco padded the lead as she beat Karla Dalisay, 11-4, 11-6 in the second singles. Banquiles and Barbo gave UST the win with their 15-7, 15-6 conquest of the Sheryl Caraig and Mary Ann Uy pair.
In the non-bearing matches, Leonor and Añasco dropped a 12-15, 9-15 decision to Dalisay and Kagalingan even as Leonor finished off the game with an 11-6, 11-4 win over Lisa Somillo in the third singles. Alder T. Almo
