AFTER DROPPING their campaign openers, the UST Tiger and Lady Shuttlers claimed their first respective wins in the UAAP Season 87 badminton tournament on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall.
The Tiger Shuttlers fended off a gritty Adamson Soaring Falcons, 4-1, to secure their first win in the tournament.
UST duo of Janzen Panisales and Ron Jacob Galve secured the first victory after taking down the pair of Julius Fontanilla and Nathaniel Acedillo, 21-19, 21-14 in the first doubles match.
Tiger Shuttlers captain Llenox Culiao set the tone for the team by dispatching Adamson’s Heaven Linaban with a straight-set victory, 21-18, 21-12, in the first singles match.
Junior Tiger Ivan Angelo Tuazon followed suit, defeating Jhon Nathaniel Dema-ano, 21-13, 21-11, to extend UST’s lead.
Culiao then teamed up with Bien Miraflor to secure UST’s fourth point with a 22-20, 21-13 win over Gabrielle Canoy and Noel Hernandez, Jr. in the second doubles match.
Adamson’s lone point came from Acedillo, who defeated UST’s John Vincent Espinoza in the third singles bout, 21-15, 21-14 to prevent a complete shutout for his team.
The España-based squad now holds a 1-1 win-loss record and will face the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles on Oct. 20 at the same venue.
Moving to the women’s division, the Lady Shuttlers flew past the Adamson Lady Falcons, 4-1, to seal their first dub.
Reigning Rookie of the Year Patricia de Leon led UST to its first point after escaping Adamson’s Marian Barcelona with a 21-18, 21-16 victory in the first singles match.
De Leon returned to the court alongside Mariell Alvarez, securing a convincing 21-10, 21-14 sweep over Justine Barasona and Jennifer Ondol in the second doubles match.
Adamson leveled the match as Aubrey Fuerte defeated UST’s Angelina Vitangcol in the second singles game, 21-14, 21-15.
However, UST regained control when Jennifer Saldaga and Rhafi Santos swept Adamson’s pairing of Camille Buagas and Graziel Cabriga, 21-10, 21-16, in the first doubles match, to lead the match, 2-1.
In the third singles match, Reshane Nicor held off Adamson’s Aleyha Villanueva’s attempted comeback, winning 21-11, 11-21, 21-10 in the third singles bout.
The Lady Tiger Shuttlers improved to a 1-1 win-loss record and will face the 5-peat-seeking Ateneo Women’s Badminton team on Oct. 20 at the same venue.
“We talked last night about what changes we should make in our lineup to win this game,” UST badminton team head coach Charlie Medina told The Flame.
Medina also noted that the Shuttlers are still recovering from their loss, so the team is still taking it one step at a time.
The tactician aims to build on the team’s momentum in their upcoming match against Ateneo. F
