THE UST Shuttlers took an early exit in the initial rounds of the 5th Philippine National Open-Ming Ramos Youth Cup Badminton Championships at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall from May 14 to 18.
Male Shuttler Benjude Cajefe trounced Gilbert Ignacio of the Philippine Polytechnic University in his first game, 21-10, 21-11, but lost steam in his match against Far Eastern University’s (FEU) Vincent Fabro on the second day.
Former Tiger Kevin Dalisay scored back-to-back victories in the men’s singles division against Escoses Training Camp’s Kingsley Go, 21-6, 21-12, and Under-19 neophyte Ray Chan, 21-6, 21-4. Dalisay fell short against an experienced Paul Vivas of the University of the Philippines in the third round, 16-21, 13-21.
Rusty Rodriguez of De La Salle University-Dasmariñas won by default against UST’s Mark Sotea, whose schedule kept him from the game.
“We did not expect to win considering that we have limited manpower for the tournament,” said head coach Noli Cajefe, who awaits the return of key player Patricia Barredo next month after a year of absence due academic deficiencies. “Despite the loss, the important thing that the players got was the experience, especially against the national team players.”
UAAP Season 73 Most Valuable Player Peter Magnaye notched a gold after teaming up with fellow national team player Philip Escueta of National University in the men’s doubles category.
The powerhouse duo of Magnaye and Escueta whipped the top-seeded duo of De La Salle University’s Ronel Estanislao and Vivas, 21-13, 21-18, in the men’s doubles finals.
The tandem of UST’s Renz Vivas and La Salle’s Prince de Jesus nipped Mark Gregorio and Dennis Chan of Cami Shuttlers, 21-6, 21-7, but faltered to the more experienced pair of National University’s Gregg Paz and Sonny Montilla, 19-21, 6-21.
The Tiger duo of team captain Tan Tan Kapunan and RJ Ormilla lost to Adamson University’s Dave Dueves and Orlan Ticala, the 2012 Prima Pasta Invitational Badminton Open champion, via default.
“We had a conflict in schedules because during that week, we were ranking our team that’s why the opponents won via walkover,” Kapunan said.
In women’s play, Female Shuttler Rochanie Decatoria and Babolat Academy’s Monica Chua got whipped by FEU’s Kim Mayono and Jennifer Cayetano, 13-21, 15-21. Alexis U. Cerado
