IF THEIR 4-2 win-loss record at the end of the first round is any indication, the UST Lady Shuttlers are likely to annex their second straight UAAP badminton title this season.
But looking beyond the numbers, coach Noli Cajafe begs to disagree.
“Right now, we are the underdogs here. Some of our key players have been debarred which means that we have less firepower against big enemies like La Salle and FEU. We only have 50-50 chance left,” Cajefe told the Varsitarian hours after the Lady Shuttlers yielded a 2-3 decision to powerhouse Far Eastern University (FEU) last March 1 at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
Filling the void left by Season 70 Most Improved Player Rochanie Decatoria and Chona Medina who red-shirted their doubles stint for the Lady Shuttlers this season, Season 70 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Rose Ann Dela Cruz teamed up with Jemelle Vicencio in a gutsy bid to stop the FEU duo of Rochelle Reyes and Jennifer Cayetano from claiming the deciding doubles match. But the interim UST pair faltered in the homestretch, surrendering a 22-20, 15-21, 18-21 decision to hand the Lady Shuttlers’ their second defeat in six games.
The Lady Shuttlers had earlier dropped their first doubles match against FEU after rookie Camille Yang and Malou Gaspar took a 12-21, 16-21 whipping from Jovalyn Cabanero and Diosan Abangan.
UST’s singles campaign proved to be its saving grace as Yang ousted Abangan, 22-20, 21-16 and Dela Cruz conquered Gerrelyn Glico, 21-15, 21-19. Only Cabanero managed to steal a singles victory for FEU after repulsing Jacki Cudia in a 17-21, 23-25.
A day earlier, the Lady Shuttlers ripped the University of the Philippines (UP), 4-1 to avenge a 2-3 upset from the University of East (UE) last Feb. 22. In their previous games, the Lady Shuttlers downed Adamson University, 3-2, Ateneo de Manila University, 5-0 and the National University (NU), 4-1, last Feb. 21, Feb. 15 and Feb. 14, respectively.
Better year
Despite losing to UE, 2-3, last March 1, the Male Shuttlers still capped the first round with a second-best 5-1 win-loss card.
“UE is really a strong team but I think our players are performing better than last year, in fact, we were just expecting a fourth place this year. It must be from their training,” Cajefe said.
Prior to losing against UE, the Male Shuttlers clobbered earlier adversaries like La Salle, 3-2, Ateneo, 3-2, NU, 5-0, FEU, 3-2, and UP, 5-0, last Feb. 28, Feb. 22, Feb. 21, Feb 15 and Feb. 14, respectively.
