Photo from UAAP Media.
THE UST Tiger and Lady Shuttlers booked their semifinal tickets after dismantling the DLSU Green and Lady Shuttlers in the UAAP Season 87 badminton tournament on Sunday, Oct. 27, at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Sports Complex.
Ivan Angelo Tuazon led the Tiger Shuttlers to their third straight Final Four appearance after shutting down the Green Shuttlers’ comeback attempt in a thrilling 3-2 victory.
Tuazon dominated DLSU’s Joshua Aurel Fajilan in straight sets, 21-10, 21-12, during the singles match decider.
Tiger Shuttlers captain Llenox Matthew Culiao set the tone with a gritty 11-21, 21-17, 21-16 victory over Joshua Miguel Cuarte in the first singles match.
Meanwhile, Francis Haroun Sarmiento secured a 2-0 lead for UST after a close match against Green Shuttler James Carl Capin, 21-18, 19-21, 21-18 in the second doubles match.
DLSU did not falter as the tandem of Joshua Morada and Yuan Tan pounced Culiao and Bien Miraflor of UST in a hard-fought 21-19, 19-21, 17-21 win in the first doubles match.
Green Shuttlers duo Cuarte and Zaki Layno leveled the match, 2-2, by beating Ron Jacob Galve and Sarmiento, 21-16, 21-14.
UST regained momentum after Tuazon delivered the match-winning final blow, 3-2.
The fourth-seeded UST Tiger Shuttlers will face last season’s silver medalists NU Bulldogs in the Final Four match-up on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the same venue.
“Our seniors performed just as what we expected,” UST head coach Charlie Medina told The Flame.
“All NU players are members of the national team. We will try our best to secure a win, and we hope to succeed,” she added.
In the women’s division, the Lady Shuttlers secured their place in the semifinal pool with a commanding 4-1 victory over the DLSU Lady Shuttlers.
UST sophomore Patricia de Leon led the charge for the Lady Shuttlers’s second consecutive Final Four appearance.
De Leon battled through a tough first singles match, ultimately prevailing over DLSU’s Ghiselle Bautista, 15-21, 21-16, 21-16.
In the second singles match, UST’s Reshane Nicor overcame DLSU’s Lady Tuario in a 65-minute clash, pulling off a tight 19-21, 24-22, 21-13 win.
De Leon then teamed up with Marielle Alvarez in the first doubles, where they defeated Mia Manguilomotan and Viana Antonio, 21-17, 21-17, clinching the semifinal ticket for UST.
Senior duo Jennifer Saldaga and Rhaffi Santos added the fourth point for UST with a swift 21-9, 21-11 win over DLSU’s Bautista and Jacqueline Pantoja tandem.
Despite the strong performance of the España-based shuttlers, DLSU’s Viana Antonio managed to secure a consolation point after pounding UST’s Angelina Vitangcol in the final singles match, 21-10, 21-19.
The UST Lady Shuttlers are set to face last season’s silver medalists, the UP Fighting Maroons, in the semifinals tournament on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the same venue.
“I’m happy with their performance because even though they were behind, they still fought back,” Medina said.
“Matira matibay, (the one with the toughest heart will win),” the chief tactician added. F
