THE UST Shuttlecockers traversed different paths in their debut games in the UAAP Season 69 Badminton hostilities last Feb. 17-18 at Club Sixfifty in Quezon City.
It was a smooth-sailing campaign for the Lady Shuttlecockers who easily caught fire to defeat Adamson University in a best-of-five showdown, 3-2. UST sophomore stalwart Jem Vicencio displayed relentless attacks against Emily Gali for a 21-11, 21-8 triumph. UST rookie Jackilyn Cudia, however, fell short of experience and bowed down to Juvy Vallarta, 16-21, 19-21.
In doubles action, UST’s Maricris Ravela and Rose Anne Dela Cruz overcame a shaky start and scored successive hard-hitters for a 14-21, 21-14, 21-16 victory over Emily Gali and Abel Villaran.
UST punctuated their fiery start with Rochanie Decatoria and Chona Medina’s 21-19, 21-19 nailbiter win against Vallarta and Anne Chavez.
“I know that they are yet to realize their full potential but I am sure that it will come in the coming games,” UST Shuttlecockers coach Noli Cajefe said.
On the distaff side, the Tiger Shuttlecockers absorbed first day jitters and lost to the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, 2-3, in another best-of-five series.
Tiger neophyte Kevin Dalisay thrashed sophomore player Roy Callanta in a 21-16, 21-18 straight setter. Junior player Paulo Dawal, however, suffered a straight- setter defeat from Ateneo’s Jobett Co, 16-21, 21-23. Sole Tiger Shuttlecocker senior Ericden Dionisio also suffered a 9-21, 19-21 defeat against Orville Yu.
Later, the rookie tandem of Dalisay and Emmanuel Garcia would then exact revenge on Ateneo’s Rainer Tiam-Lee and Yu in a 21-13, 21-7 win in the third game. But rookie magic did not last that long as another bunch of Tiger rookies in Renz Vivas and Derrick Chan faltered against Callanta and Co in a close 18-21, 18-21 loss.
