THE TIGER Shuttlecockers ended up short again.
With a depleted lineup, the España-based female shuttlecockers bowed out of the JVC Open Badminton Championships last July 25. The Female Shuttlecockers lost to the Far Eastern University Lady shuttlecockers in the finals, while the Tiger shuttlecockers bowed to the Morayta-based shuttlecockers in the semis.
The Tigers did not only fall short of won matches, but also fell short of players.
Female shuttlecockers
The fancied duo of veterans Katleen Añasco and Lyka Leonor had to leave the female shuttlecockers midway in the tournament, after pulling-off victories in the first round matches that helped UST sweep the qualifying round, to represent the country in the Inter-Religious Sports Festival (IRSF) in Asan, North Korea from July 21-27.
At the start of the semifinal round, it seemed the female smashers had overcome the absence of Añasco and Leonor as they dislodged rivals from the University of the Philippines (UP).
Rookie Rose Ann dela Cruz stunned Maroon Ronielle Kagalingan in the first singles match, 11-6, 11-7. Sandy Banquiles and Zarina Barbo teamed up to fill the spots vacated by Añasco and Leonor and carried past the Tigers, 15-13, 17-15, to register a thrilling victory against Sheryl Caraig and Sarah Caraig in the doubles encounter.
But in the finals, pressure was on Palarong Pambansa champion dela Cruz in her match against Tamaraw Julie Ann Hilador as UST did not have an entry in the second singles.
JVC rules state that in a team tie competition, a college or a university could only register five players in both the males and females divisions and only the players listed could join and shift events. The rule placed Banquiles, Barbo, and dela Cruz in a tough and demanding position as a single loss will cost them the championship.
“Hindi kasi namin alam na matutuloy ‘yung laban nila sa Korea kaya sila ‘yung naipasok ko sa tournament,” head coach Noli Cajefe told the Varsitarian.
Even without his top smashers, Cajefe was determined to give their opponents a difficult time on the court.
But the pressure was too much for dela Cruz as Hilador clawed her way back in the first set and ends it at 9-11. Dela Cruz needed 15 minutes to subdue her contender in the second set, 11-6, but Hilador slammed the door on the Tigers as she got hold of the deciding canto, 6-11.
Banquiles and Barbo, going into the non-bearing doubles match were flawlessly drubbed by the tandem of Mary Sebastian and Crizel Sarabia in the first set, 15-0. The Tigers dropped a 6-0 binge halfway in the second set to inch closer to the FEU lead but was denied later in the tournament and closed the outing at 15-12.
“Dahil sa pressure, hindi sila nakapag-perform ng mabuti. Demoralized na ‘yung mga players sa second match kasi dahil sa talo natin sa singles, laglag na,” said Cajefe on the Female Shuttlecockers’ performance.
But Cajefe still owes it to his wards for reaching the finals even without the key players.
“Sabi ko, okay lang. Naabot namin itong finals with just three players. Not bad,” Cajefe added.
Male shuttlecockers
If good would best describe the showing of the Female Shuttlecockers, a little less than that would be just fine for their male counterparts.
The Male Shuttlecockers ended the elimination round with a 2-1 slate.
Just like their female counterparts, veterans and key players Alfredo Mailon and Ricky Bartolome will join Añasco and Leonor in the IRSF. Mailon and Bartolome helped the shuttlecockers earn a semifinal seat, but had to leave to participate in the one-week tournament.
Tiger Reynaldo Selga continued his winning stint on the way to the semifinals and blasted Tamaraw Wilmer Frias in the first singles, 9-5, 15-6, and 15-9. The victory gave the Tigers a slim chance to grab a finals berth, but the duo of Tigers Ryan Conde and Arden Pantig succumbed to Marc Alvin Natividad and Christopher Flores, erasing their finals appearance hopes.
A better team
Other than the second and third place finish by the Tiger shuttlecockers, the España-based smashers also played well in the Elite division of the tournament were faced against top caliber players across the country. UST reached the Round of 16 division, but bowed out of the quarterfinals last July 19.
After the JVC Open stint, Cajefe is optimistic about his team’s chances in UAAP Season 67. He said his wards have been playing their hearts out whether on practice or official outings.
“Basta pagdating ng mga players ko galing Korea, ready na kami,” he said.
