THE UST Male Shuttlers retained their crown for the second straight season, outsmashing strong contender Ateneo de Manila University, 3-2, last September 26 at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.
The team’s bid to keep the title began in defeat as team captain Salvador Kapunan bowed down to Ateneo’s Antonio Gadi, 9-21, 14-21, in the first singles match.
But national player RJ Ormilla put UST in the win column as he handed Patrick Natividad a 21-18, 21-15 loss to even the score at 1-1.
The Shuttlers came within a win away from another title after Ariel Magnaye and Benjude Cajefe subdued Ateneo’s Paolo Sunga and Justin Natividad, 21-18, 21-16.
But the Kapunan-Ormilla tandem surrendered to Patrick and Gadi in a back-and-forth affair, 10-21, 20-22, forcing a make-or-break set in the third and last singles match.
UST’s Magnaye drubbed Sunga in a nail-biting final match amid the pressure and faults, 17-21, 21-16, 21-17, to ultimately secure the gold for the squad.
Magnaye, a rookie, came home with another prize as he was awarded this year’s MVP. Benjude was named the Most Improved Player
“I’m very happy because I did not expect this to happen in my first year of playing,” Magnaye said.
Back to the Final Four
The Female Shuttlers weren’t as lucky as their male counterparts, yet they were able to make it back to the Final Four and finish fourth after losing to the University of the East in their battle for third, 2-3.
Malou Gaspar crushed UE’s Kimberly Gatpolintan in the second singles match, 24-22, 21-12 and the tandem of Cha Decatoria and Chona Medina crushed Gatpolintan’s team-up with Rochelle Andres, 21-11, 21-10 to force a deciding third singles.
But UE’s Fatima Cruz outlasted Rookie Shuttler Pia Fabros in the final round, 10-21, 13-21, that confined them to fourth place finish.
