THE UST Tiger Shuttlers missed out on an elusive medal finish after absorbing a 3-2 defeat against the UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 89 men’s badminton tournament, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Gameville Central Park.
The NU Bulldogs captured the men’s team championship, while Ateneo finished as runner-up.
Aaron Bedaña opened the tie with a straight-sets loss to UP team captain Shan Clar, 14-21, 10-21, in the first singles match.
Rookie Clark Brillantes answered for UST, surviving a marathon opening set before defeating Josh Dupet, 30-29, 21-16.
Ron Galve and Bien Miraflor then gave UST its only lead after recovering from a second-set setback to outlast MJ Amerodin and Kian Cruz, 21-16, 17-21, 21-17.
UP responded in the second doubles match, where John Vincent Espinoza and Manuel Fulmentera bowed to Arjay Lazareto and Ryan Mendoza, 18-21, 20-22.
UST captain Ivan Tuazon, however, dropped the deciding third singles match to UP rookie Jerard Borgador, 21-16, 16-21, 16-21.
The tournament shifts to the individual events on Friday, Oct. 30, at the same venue. F
