THE REIGNING champions Ateneo Blue Eagles made easy work of the UST Tiger and Lady Shuttlers in the UAAP Season 87 badminton tournament on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall.
UST suffered a 5-0 sweep after struggling to keep up with Ateneo’s offensive firepower.
The reigning Rookie of the Year Lance Vargas took down Tiger captain Llenox Matthew Culiao in straight sets, 21-14, 21-18, to take the first singles match.
John Vincent Espinoza followed suit by bowing to the defending MVP Lyrden Laborte, 21-7, 21-9, in the second singles match that gave Ateneo a 2-0 score.
The UST pair of Janzen Panisales and Ron Jacob Galvo struggled to hold off the duo of Vargas and senior co-MVP Arthur Salvado, 21-10, 21-11, handing the victory to Ateneo.
Culiao and Bien Miraflor fell short in the second doubles match, losing to Laborte and Charles Bagabas, 21-15, 21-18.
In the third singles match, Blue Eagle Salvado dominated Francis Sarmiento to complete the shutout, 21-7, 21-9.
The Tiger Shuttlers dropped to a 1-2 win-loss record and will face the DLSU Green Shuttlers on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the same venue.
In the women’s division, the Lady Shuttlers suffered a 4-1 loss to the five-peat-seeking Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Ateneo’s Angel Valle quickly dispatched UST’s Maria Charleze Belen in the first singles match, 21-6, 21-14, in 35 minutes.
Three-time MVP Mikaela de Guzman followed it up with a commanding 21-9, 21-13, win over Reshane Nicor in the second singles match, giving Ateneo a 2-0 edge.
However, Lady Shuttlers Patricia de Leon and Marielle Alvarez fought back in the second doubles match by taking out Maxene Olango and Febee Ferrer in a hard-fought battle, 21-14, 17-21, 21-19, to seal UST’s lone victory in 67 minutes.
In a 76-minute showdown, Ateneo captain Missy Cervantes and De Guzman teamed up to outlast UST’s Rhafi Ann Santos and Jenniffer Saldaga, 17-21, 21-5, 21-18, clinching the win for Ateneo.
Ateneo rookie Althea Dawn Ocampo wrapped up the match with a 21-14, 21-10, victory over De Leon in the third singles match.
Slipping to a 1-2 record, the Lady Shuttlers will next face the DLSU Lady Shuttlers, on Saturday, Oct. 26, at the same venue. F
