SOME UST Shuttlers took a pre-UAAP warm-up as they aim to bounce back in Season 76 from an unlikely fourth-place finish last season through the 7th Leg of the Manuel V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation Badminton Championships-Philippine Badminton Ranking System (PBaRS) at the Excel Badminton Center, San Fernando, Pampanga last May 3-7.
National team member and UST sophomore student Paul Pantig shook off a summer rust and finished second in the under-19 boy’s doubles category with Joshua Monterubio of De La Salle University. He also bagged the third place in the open men’s doubles division alongside former UST Shuttler Rjay Ormilla.
Pantig and Monterubio absorbed a 10-21, 14-21 drubbing against Carlos Antonie Cayanan and Alvin Morada, respectively, in their U-19 boy’s doubles championship bout.
“We came up short in our finals match against Cayanan and Morada who are also players of the Philippine national team,” said Pantig.
In the semifinal round of the open men’s doubles division, Pantig and Ormilla were ousted by Joper Escueta and Ronel Estanislao in straight sets, 9-21, 7-21. Pantig and Ormilla also competed in the open men’s singles division but got the boot early in the second and fourth rounds, respectively.
Kit Benjude Cajefe and Patricque Francisco Magnaye were not as fortunate as the other UST stalwarts as they failed to advance in the quarterfinals of the open men’s doubles division after being defeated in the third round.
Magnaye, alongside UST Female Shuttler Anna Patricia Barredo, barged into the quarterfinals of the open mixed doubles category via default but failed to sustain momentum and fell short against Alfredo Mailon and Rochelle Reyes of Team Prima, 13-21, 21-18, 20-22.
Barredo and Pia Lyn Fabros did not make it to the semis of the open women’s doubles division after dropping their quarterfinal bout to Danica Bolos and Jen Cayetano in straight sets, 15-21, 16-21.
