VENGEANCE was theirs.
The Tiger Shuttlecockers displayed splendid victor’s form as they dethroned the Far Eastern University (FEU) in the second staging of the JVC Intercollegiate Badminton Championships last Nov. 10-16 at Powersmash and Glorietta Activity Center in Makati City.
Even with the intimidating powerhouse selection of FEU and violent verbal exchanges, the Tigers tamed the Tamaraws and smashed their way to glory.
Head coach and former National team player Noli Cajefe could only describe their victory as “dramatic.”
“Nag-champion na kami sa ibang tournaments, pero this time, parang iba. Naiyak nga ako eh,” said Cajefe.
After sweeping the eliminations, the España-based smashers faced their arch-rival in FEU for the prestigious title.
“May mga narinig kami na gugulpihin daw kami at wala na raw ba kaming pwedeng itapat na mas magaling, pero bow talaga ako sa players ko.”
In the first singles match, Tamaraw Wilson Frias gave FEU an early advantage after pulling a sweet two-set victory over Ryan Conde, 15-4, 15-8.
The pressure was on for the tandem of Team captain Ricky Bartolome and Reynaldo Selga as they battled in the must-win doubles encounter. The fierce UST duo showed no sign of collapse and dominated the match, 15-5, 15-9, against FEU’s Ato Natividad and Christopher Flores.
UST ace player Alfredo Mailon clashed with FEU top gunner Owen Lopez in the all-important second singles. Lopez proved his fifth ranking in the national pool and took the first set from seventh-seeded Mailon, 15-4.
“Sabi ko sa kanya (Mailon) na wala sa kanya ang pressure. Basta bigyan lang niya ng magandang laban,” said Cajefe.
Mailon did more than just give his opponent a good fight. He carried the Tigers to a much-deserved victory after subduing Lopez in the remaining sets, 15-8,15-4, putting to completion what eighth-ranked national player Bartolome said, “Masarap kung matatanggalan natin ng ngiti ang FEU.”
In the Philippine Badminton Tournament last year, Lopez scored a lopsided win over Mailon.
UST earned its license to the Finals after routing the University of the Philippines (UP). Bartolome trounced Marlon Villarin, 15-11, 15-7, in the first singles. UP, however, got back in the thick of things as the Maroon pair of Marvin Cumbe and Popert Bemadas overpowered Tigers Selga and Conde. But Benjo Garcia of the Diliman-based shuttlecockers failed to sustain the momentum and eventually bowed to Mailon in the tightly-contested second singles, 10-15, 11-15.
The Tigers crashed the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in the quarterfinals for the semifinal bid.
“Simula pa lang underdog na kami, hiniling ko lang sa mga players ko na bigyan nila ako ng magandang laban, pero talagang higit pa dun ‘yung pinakita nila, “said Cajefe of his wards’ performance.
Female Shuttlecockers
The Tigers gave FEU two hard-hitting blows as the female shuttlecockers denied the Tamaraws of a bronze exit.
Although rookie Leah Frias bowed to veteran Tamaraw Criselda Sarabia, 3-11, 8-11 in the first singles, the dynamic tandem of veteran Kathleen Añasco and rookie Rose Ann dela Cruz redeemed UST and forced a hard-fought win over Angel Crisostomo and Mary Ann Sebastian, 15-5, 10-15, 15-11. Veteran Lyka Leonor, despite suffering from cramps in the middle of the match, sealed the UST victory after scoring a win over rookie Jovalyn Cabañero, 7-11, 11-5, 11-2.
The female shuttlecockers’ bid for a finals appearance was fanned by the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) as the Eagles flaunted a powerful control of the game.
Frias failed to register a win and succumbed to Andrea Go, 5-11, 7-11 in the first singles encounter. The reliable duo of Añasco and Leonor came to the Tigers’ rescue and pulled a 15-3, 15-11 victory over Adelyn Po and Aurora Co.
Ace Eagle Irene Chu permanently slammed the door on the Tigers and convincingly prevailed over Leonor, 11-3, 11-1 in the deciding second singles.
“Okay naman. Tinalo namin yung FEU, kasi kahit paano tingnan mahirap talunin ang FEU,” said Cajefe.
The tournament saw attendance from 21 colleges and universities, a significant improvement from the eight schools who participated last August.
In the first stretch of the JVC Badminton championships this year, the female shuttlecockers were denied of the championship by FEU, while the Tiger shuttlecockers barely reached the Finals and settled for third.
