BOTH THE UST Tiger and Lady Shuttlers fell short of the podium once again, settling for fourth-place finishes in the UAAP Season 87 badminton tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex Badminton Hall.
The Tiger Shuttlers extended their podium drought to 12 years after falling to the UP Fighting Maroons for the third consecutive season via a commanding 3-0 sweep.
Smash Pilipinas standout Jelo Albo set the tone for UP with a dominant victory, 21-4, 21-7, over UST skipper Llenox Culiao in the opening singles match.
In the second singles, Season 87 Rookie of the Year Shan Clar outclassed Ivan Angelo Tuazon, 21-16, 21-9, to hand the Fighting Maroons a solid 2-0 lead.
The erstwhile undefeated UP duo of Mark Anthony Bernal and Enzo Rivera then secured their third straight bronze with a clinical win over UST’s Culiao and Bien Miraflor, 21-12, 21-12.
In the finals, the NU Bulldogs dethroned the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 3-0, to claim their ninth crown in 11 years.
After the match, UST head coach Charlie Medina acknowledged UP for having the most talented players in the country.
“UP has the best of the best players in the Philippines,” the tactician told The Flame.
The Tiger Shuttlers will lose the services of Francis Sarmiento and team captain Culiao who are set to graduate.
In a similar fashion, the Lady Shuttlers tumbled to the NU Lady Bulldogs, 3-0, to end up as fourth placers in back-to-back seasons.
Lady Bulldog Ysabelle Aurora Amora, who is the top-ranked Philippine Badminton Association (PBAD) women’s singles player, took out Angelina Vitangcol, 21-19, 21-15, to give her team the first win.
NU standout Karylle Rio followed it up with a narrow victory over Reshane Nicor, 21-19, 21-16, in the second singles match.
In the first doubles matchup, Jeya Pinlac and Nica Songcuan rallied back to secure a come-from-behind win against UST’s senior duo Jennifer Saldaga and Rhafi Santos, 18-21, 21-8, 21-10, to clinch the bronze medal.
The Lady Shuttlers will be without Santos next season.
UP Fighting Maroons then won their 10th title by dethroning the five-peat-seeking Ateneo Blue Eagles. F – with reports from Shayne Lee Andreas Macaraeg
